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THE POEMS 



ROBERT HENRYSON 



IN GENTLE HENRTSON S UNLABODR D STRAIN 
SWEET ARETHUSa's SHEPHERD BREATH'd AGAIN. 
LAKGHORNE, 1763. 



THE 

POEMS AND FABLES 

OF 

ROBERT HENRYSON, 

NOW FIRST COLLECTED. 
WITH NOTES, AND A MEMOIR OF HIS LIFE. 

BY DAVID LAING. 




EDINBURGH: MDCCCLXV. 
WILLIAM PATERSON, PRINCES STREET. 






054S, 



02. 



EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY JOHN HUGHES, THISTLE STREET. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Advertisement, 

Memoir of Robert Henryson, 



Page 

VII 

IX 



Appendix, No. I. List of Persons of the name of 
Henryson, from the middle of the Four- 
teenth to the end of the Fifteenth Century, xxxvii 

No. II. The Lands and Barony of Fordell, . xl 

No. III. The Hendersons of Fordell, . . xlvi 

No. IV. Notices of the chief Persons of the name 
of Henryson or Henderson during the Six- 
teenth Century, ... l 

Miscellaneous Poems. 



Robene and Makyne, 


3 


The Garmond of Gude Ladeis, 


8 


The Bludy Serk, .... 


10 


The Abbay Walk, . . . . 


15 


Aganis Haisty Creddance of Titlaris, 


18 


The Prais of Aige, .... 


21 


The Ressoning betwixt Aige and Yowth, 


23 


The Ressoning betwixt Deth and Man, 


27 


The Three Deid Powis, . 


30 


The Salutation of the Virgin, . 


33 


The Want of Wyse Men, . 


36 


Ane Prayer for the Pest, 


39 


Sum Practysis of Medecyne, 
b 


43 



TABLE OP CONTENTS. 



Pagb 

OftPHEUS AND EURYDICE, .... 49 

The Testament of Cresseid, . . .75 

The Complaint of Cresseid, ... 89 

The Moral Fables of -^sop in Scottish Metre. 

The Prologue, ..... 101 

The Taill of the Cock and the Jasp, . . 104 
The Taill of the Uplandis Mous and the Burges 

Mous, ..... 108 

The Tain of Schir Chantecleir and the Foxe, . 118 
The Taill how this foirsaid Tod made his Confes- 

sioun to Freir Wolf Wait-skaith, . . 127 
The Taill of the Sone and Air of the foirsaid 

Foxe, callit Father Ware : alswa the Parlia- 

mentof Fourfuttit Beastis haldin be the Lyoun, 134 

The Taill of the Dog, the Scheip, and the Wolf, 148 

The Prologue, .... 155 

The Taill of the Lyoun and the Mous, . . 159 

The Preiching of the Swallow, . . 168 
The Taill of the Wolf that gat the Nek-Herring 

throw the Wrinkis of the Foxe that begylit 

the Cadgear, .... 181 
The Taill of the Foxe that begylit the Wolf in the 

Schadow of the Mone, . . .193 

The Taill of the Wolf and the Wedder, . 203 

^ The Taill of the Wolf and the Lamb, . . 210 

The Taill of the Paddok and the Mous, . 217 

Notes. 

Notes and Various Readings, . . . 227 

Additional Notes, .... 301 

The Gloss artt, ..... 309 



/ 



^^3/ 
6 33y 




ADVERTISEMENT. 




HEN the collected edition of Dunbar's 
Poems was published in 1834, I 
announced the present volume as in 
preparation. The materials were to 
some extent collected, but want of ^-^ 
leisure and other circumstances kept me at the time ^ 
from sending it to press. A few years ago, having 
resumed a scheme which I had merely postponed, the 
chief portion of tlie text was actually printed, but an 
interruption took place, and the volume was laid aside, 
to be completed at the first convenient season. 



Every Manuscript known to contain any poems attri- 
buted to Henryson has been carefully consulted ; and 
the early printed editions, all of them of the utmost 
degree of rarity, have not been overlooked. It is 
unnecessary to specify these in this place, as they are 
particularly described in the Notes. In regard to the 
Author's personal history, scanty as the notices may be, 
fortunately he is not like many of our Old Makars, 
whose writings have perished, and who stand before 



[ viii ] 

US in a dim shadowy obscurity, affording some tran- 
sient glimpse, or with the mere sound of a name ; 
while of others the few unimportant reliques that have 
reached our times, serve only to indicate that such 
persons had ever existed. 



DAVID LAINa. 



Edinburgh, 
February 1865. 




Il 




MEMOIR 



ROBERT HENRYSON. 



ENRYSON, author of 
the Moral Fables of 
iEsop, and of Robene 
and Makyne, the ear- 
liest specimen of pas- 
toral poetry in our 
language, flourished 
in the reign of King 
James the Third 
(1460-1488). Ac- 
cording to the prevailing tradition of the last century, 
he was the representative of the family of Henryson or 
Henderson of Fordell, in the county of Fife. In the 
account of the family given in Douglas's Baronage of 
Scotland,! ^y^ gn j ^he following statement : — 

" The sirname of Henderson or Henryson, which are 
the same, is of considerable antiquity in Scotland ; and 




Edinb., 17! 



118. 



X MEMOIR OF 

the progenitors of this family have been settled in the 
western parts of Fife above 300 years ago. Their 
immediate ancestor, Mr Robert Henderson, appears 
to have been a man of distinction in the reign of King 
James the Third, and is witness in a charter to Patrick 
Baron of the lands of Spittlefield, together with John 
Lundine of that ilk, John Beaton of Balfour, &;c., anno 
1478. He was father of Mr Jajies Henderson of 
Fordell, who made a great figure in the reign of King- 
James the Fourth. He was a man of extraordinary 
parts, and, being bred to the law, was appointed King's 
Advocate anno 1494, and afterwards Lord Justice- 
Clerk. He having redeemed some part of the lands of 
Fordell, which had been wadset by his predecessors to 
Alexander Drummond of Ardmore, upon his resigna- 
tion got a charter under the Great Seal, &c. 8th March 
1510." 

In this statement there are two very important points 
for which no authority is adduced : The first, that the 
Justice-Clerk was the son of the Poet ; the second, that 
the Hendersons were possessors of the lands of Fordell 
prior to the years 1510 and 1511, when, having been 
acquired by purchase, they were erected into a barony 
in favour of Mr James Henryson and his wife, Helen 
Batye. The charter of 1478, to be afterwards men- 
tioned, has no reference whatever to Fordell or to Hen- 
ryson individually. 

Of the paientage and early history of Robert Hen- 
ryson, the poet, no certain information can be dis- 
covered : it would therefore be idle to hazard anv con- 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XI 

jectiires as to the place of his birth. The surname was 
not uncommon in different parts of Scotland during the 
Fifteenth Century. In proof of this some notices will 
be given in the Appendix, No. I. But we cannot 
greatly err in supposing him to have been born not 
later than the year 1425. That he received a liberal 
education, and proceeded " in the schools " through the 
usual course till he had taken the degree of Master of 
Arts, might be inferred from the circumstance that he 
is uniformly styled Master Robert Henryson, a title 
given in those days exclusively to persons who had 
received this academical distinction. At that period 
there existed only two Universities in Scotland — that 
of St Andrews, founded in the year 1411, and of Glas- 
gow in the year 1451 ; but his name does not occur in 
the existing registers of either ; and we may conclude 
that he pursued, or at least completed, his studies 
at Louvain, Paris, or some other foreign university, 
where prelections in Canon and Civil Law were given. 
His own words,^ in reference to iEsop, might therefore 
in some measure be applicable to himself, when, in reply 
to the questions as to his birth, faculty, name, and place 
of residence, he said, — 

I am of gentill blude, 

My native land is Rome withouttin nay ; 
And in that iownejirst to the Sculis I yxide^^ 
In Civile Law studyitfidl mony arte day, 
And now my winning ^ is in Hevin for ay. 

^ Page 157. ^ Yude, went. ^ Winning, habitation. 



Xll MEMOIR OF 

Fortunately, we are not left to mere conjecture 
respecting his academical studies and qualifications, as 
we find that, on the 10th of September 1462, the 
Venerable Master Egbert Henrysone, Licentiate in 
Arts and Bachelor in Decrees,^ was incorporated or 
admitted a member of the newly founded University of 
Glasgow. 

This fact, hitherto unnoticed in his biography, is 
of considerable importance, as it supplies us not only 
with a precise date in his life, but exhibits him as hold- 
ing a rank in society superior to that of a parochial 
Schoolmaster, even of such a place as Dunfermline. 
His poems likewise furnish occasional proofs of his 
attainments in science as well as learning. From the 
designation of "venerable" we may infer that he was 
somewhat advanced in life ; and although no such record 
is preserved, it is by no means improbable that he be- 
came a Fellow for the purpose of reading lectures in 
law. In one of his poems he speaks of himself as " ane 
man of age." ^ 

How it happened that Henryson took up his resi- 
dence in Dunfermline, we cannot say, — unless he may 
originally have belonged to that district; but that he 
or his predecessors ever possessed a single acre of the 

^ " Anno Domini etc. [M.cccc.]lxij<' die decimo meusis Sep- 
tembi'is Incorporatus fuit venerabilis vir ]\Iagister Robertus 
Henrtsone in Artibus Licentiatus et in Decretis Bachalarius" 
— (Munimenta Alme Universitatis Glasguensis, vol. ii., p. 69). 

^ See p. 76. In another place he speaks of himself as having 
some experience or practice in medicine ; but obviously no stress 
can be laid upon such expressions. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. Xlll 

lands of Fordell, is a gratuitous assumption. Dunferm- 
line was a town of considerable importance, having 
been constituted a Royal Borough in the reign of David 
the First. It afterwards became a royal residence, and 
was also celebrated for the noble Benedictine Monas- 
tery which was founded by King Malcolm Canmore 
(1057-1093), and changed by David the First to an 
Abbey in 1124, — the church and monastery being dedi- 
cated to the Holy Trinity and St Margaret Queen of 
Scotland. Among his other avocations Henryson acted 
as a notary -public. In the Chartulary of Dunfermline 
there are three deeds in which he is so designed, but 
merely as one of the witnesses. They were granted by 
Henry Abbot of Dunfermline to George de Lothreisk, 
and to Patrick Barone, burgess of Edinburgh, and Mar- 
garet his spouse, of the lands of Spettelfield, near the 
borough of Inverkeithing, in March 1477-8 and July 
1478. In each of these deeds, Magister Robertus Hen- 
rison notarius puhlicus occurs simply as a witness, with- 
out any other designation.^ 

1 Registrum de Dunfermelyn, :MS., fol. 63% 63^, 64».— The 
deeds above referred to are included in the volume printed for 
the Bannatyne Club, p. 370, vnth this omission, that no notice 
is taken of the -witnesses. I may here supply this deficiency. The 
first two are dated the 18th and 19th of JNJarch 1477-8, and the 
names are the same in the Register : — " Testihiis Willelmo de 
Menteth domino de Westkers, Willelmo Stewart, Johanne 
Menteth, Magistro Roberto Henrison publico notario, Wil- 
lelmo Balluny, Jacobo Lothreisk, et Alexandro Foulis publico 
notario, cum aliis. Apud," &c. In the third the MS. has, — 
" Testibus Johanne Lundy de eodem milite, Johanne Betoun de 
Balfour, Wilelmo Stewart, Johanne Menteth, Johanne Mosman, 



XIV MEMOIR OF 

At an early period, when tlie Canon Law prevailed 
in Scotland, few persons, it is believed, other than 
ecclesiastics, were qualified to exercise the office of 
notary in executing deeds and other legal instruments. 
This arose from the circumstance that they were almost 
the only persons who were competent by their educa- 
tion and a knowledge of Civil and Canon Law. Each 
notary held his appointment by Papal and Imperial 
authority, confirmed by the Bishop of the Diocese, as 
Ordinary.^ By an Act of King James the Third, dated 
20th November 1469, the Imperial authority was set 
aside in favour of the King ; yet only those who held a 
commission from the Pope could act in matters spiritual 
or beneficial, while laymen were employed, by virtue 
of regal authority, in matters civil. We do not find 
Henryson anywhere styled dericus, or presbyter, to 
denote that he was in priest's orders; and no original 
deeds, written or attested by him as notary-public, are 
known,^ but such may still exist, and would necessarily, 

Villelmo Balluny, domino David Maxwell notario publico et 
Magistro Robekto Henrisoun notario publico, cum aliis muUis. 
Datum apud Dunfermelyn vi° die mensis Julij Anno Domini 
M<'CCCC<'lxxviij<'." 

^ See Dr Irving's History of Scottish Poetry, p. 209, and his 
Preface to Henryson's Fables, p. ii. 

^ The early borough records of Inverkeithing are not pre- 
served, but among the old charters or deeds of this royal 
borough it seemed not unlikely some documents of the kind 
might still be preserved. A search however, kindly undertaken 
by William Fraser, Esq., Town-clerk, at the request of Dr 
E. Henderson, failed in discovering any such deeds, either 
written or signed by Henryson. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XV 

in the usual form, describe by what authority and in 
what diocese he had been admitted to the office. 

Of Henryson's occupation while a resident in Dun- 
fermline, beyond the circumstance of his acting as a 
notary-public, no precise information has been dis- 
covered. There is still preserved among the borough 
records an old volume of the latter part of the Fifteenth 
century, being the Court-book of the regality, but no 
mention of his name occurs in it.^ Henryson's desig- 
nation as "Schoolmaster of Dunfermline" is first met 
with on the title of his Fables in 1570 and 1571, and 
again on his Cresseid in 1593, copied probably from 
others of a much earlier date. Lord Hailes- says, — 
" I suppose his office to have been that of Preceptor of 
Youth in the Benedictine Convent at Dunfermline;*' 
and Sibbald,^ in quoting these words, adds, — " Perhaps 
what was then called Professor of Art and Jury." Mr 
Chalmers,* however, on the other hand, remarks, — 
" His Lordship seems not to have been aware that in 
Henryson's time, and even as early as the Twelfth and 
Thirteenth centuries, there were schools in each of the 



1 From this Borough Register, and from passages in Henry- 
son's poems, an interesting lecture was delivered in Dunfermline 
in February 1864, and published under the title of "Burgh Life 
in Dunfermline in the Olden Time. A Lecture by the Rev. 
William Ross, Aberdour. Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas, 
1864," 8vo., pp. 34. 

^ Ancient Scottish Poems, p. 273. 

3 Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, vol. i., p. 87. 

* Preface to Henryson's Robene and Makyne, &c., p. vii. 
note 2, Edinb. 1823, 4to. 



XVI MEMOIR OF 

most considerable towns in Scotland ; and the rectors 
or masters of these schools appear, in various docu- 
ments, in the Chartularies. Tliere were certainly schools 
in Edinburgh, Roxburgh, Perth, Aberdeen, Strivelin, 
Air, Berwick, Dunfermline, and probably in other towns. 
Boys of good families were frequently educated in the 
monastaries, but this was done by the monks themselves, 
and not by established schoolmasters, who were not 
monks." 

We cannot presume to say that the Poet was erro- 
neously called Schoolmaster, and the fact seems to be 
that the Grammar School of Dunfermline was within 
the precincts of the Abbey, and under the jurisdiction 
of the Abbots. Subsequent to the changes produced 
by the Reformation, we find that on the 13th of Octo- 
ber ] 573 a complaint came before the Lords of Privy 
Council at the instance of "John Henryson of the 
Grammar School icithin the Abbey of Dunfermline" 
stating, — ''That he and his predecessors had continued 
Masters and Teachers of the Youth, in letters and doctrine, 
to their great commodity, within the said school past 
memory of man, admitted thereto by the Abbots of Dun- 
fermling for the time," &c. It might easily be inferred 
from such a statement that Robert Henryson the Poet 
had been one of the predecessors of the said incumbent 
in 1573.^ The schools of Dunfermline continued in a 
prosperous state; and Queen Anna of Denmark, wife 

1 This complaint or memorial, extracted from the Privy 
Council Register, is given in the Appendix, No. IV. 



ROBERT HEXRYSON. XVll 

of James the Sixth, after the succession to the throne 
of England, mortified or vested in the hands of the 
Provosts and Magistrates of the borough the sum of 
2000 pounds Scots out of the temporalities of the Abbey 
for the support of the Master of the Grammar and Song 
Schools of Dunfermline, 24th August 1610.^ 

Whether Henryson the Poet was married, and left 
children, we have no means of deciding. Had he been 
in priest's orders, he could have left no legitimate issue ; 
but his academical title as Bachelor of Decrees, in 1462, 
implies his having followed the legal profession. I 
have already stated that no evidence has been adduced 
to shew, either that the King's Advocate in the reign 
of James the Fourth was a son of the Poet, or that any 
portion of the lands of Fordell was possessed by the 
Hendersons prior to the year loll. As other persons 
of the name, during the Sixteenth century, were con- 
nected with Dunfermline, this may perhaps explain the 
origin of the traditionary reports respecting his descen- 
dants, and the Fordell family. 

In the earlier charters of the Monastery of Inch 
Colme, or St Colme's Inch (founded by King Alexan- 
der the First about the year 1123 for Canon-Eegulars 
of St Augustine), we learn that Fordell was a royal 
castle in the reign of David the First, and that the pro- 
perty in the following century belonged to an ancient 
family of the name of De Camera. Nearly three cen- 

See copy of the Bond in the Historical and Statistical Ac- 
count of Dunfermline, by the Rev. Peter Chalmers, D.D., vol. 
ii., p. 417. 



L 



XVIU MEMOIR OF 

turies later, in the reign of James the Fourth, we find 
that the lands of Fordell had been subdivided, and were 
then in the possession of several heirs-portioners, until 
the year 1511, when purchased by Mr James Henryson, 
King's Advocate and Clerk of Justiciary. At that 
time they were united, and erected into a barony in 
his favour, and of Helen Batye, his spouse, and their 
children, by a charter under the Great Seal, dated 1st 
May 1511.' It would have been gratifying had we 
been able to associate the old Moral Poet with such a 
domain, or to establish his claims as progenitor of its 
subsequent proprietors. I have reason to believe that 
Sir John Henderson of Fordell (who died in 1817), 
himself an accomplished scholar, was desirous to con- 
nect the Foet with his family ; and I entertained the 
hope that some light on this head might have been 
obtained from the Fordell charters, but an examination 
of such documents or papers as were likely to serve this 
purpose proved to be fruitless.^ A more distinct claim 

1 See Appendix, Nos. II. and III. 

^ I have to acknowledge that I was indebted to the zeal and 
intelligence of the Rev. William Ross, Aberdour, for under- 
taking this task, when permission was obligingly granted by 
G. "W. Mercer Henderson of Fordell, Esq. All that ISIr Ross could 
discover connected with this search was a paper containing the 
following jottings, apparently in Sir John Henderson's hand- 
writing : — " Robertus Heni'yson, son and heir of John Henry- 
son, in a charter of Henricus Scott, burgess of Inverkeithing, 
1458 ; Robert Henryson, 1464 ; Robert Henryson, 1481 ; in a 
charter of B. Friars, 1486, George is mentioned as son of Robert 
Henryson ; and Robert Henryson, son and heir of George Hen- 
derson, 1487." Unfortunately no importance can be attached to 



ROBERT HENRTSON. XIX 

to be the lineal descendant of the poet was made by 
Captain John Henryson of the Engineers, who died in 
the year 1832.1 

The name of Henryson at least will remain insepar- 
ably associated with Dunfermline. His poems exhibit 
him as of a grave meditative disposition : at one time 
(as he tells us in the first line of a fable now lost)^ 
walking by the banks of the Forth ; at another time, 
on a fine morning in June, enjoying the beauties of 
Nature, the sw^eet smell of herbs and flowers, the 
luxuriant blossoms of Spring, and the harmony of birds ; 
or again, in his old age, pacing up and down the clois- 
ters of the venerable Abbey, turning his thoughts on 
the vanity of all earthly concerns, and consoling him- 
self, while reflecting, that the more of age the nearer 
the bliss of heaven.^ 

Sir Francis Kynaston, in the reign of Charles the 
First, translated into Latin verse, with a commentary, 
the Troilus and Cresseid of Chaucer, and added, as a 
sixth book, the Testament of Cresseid, included in the 
several editions of the works of the great English poet. 
He pointed out, however, that this sixth book was 
written by Henryson, as he states, upon the authority 

these jottings : the want of Magister precludes their having any 
special reference, either to the Poet or to the founder of the 
Fordell Hendersons, I may add, that after Sir John's death 
many old papers were unluckily destroyed. 

^ See Appendix, No. IV. ^ See infra, p. 275. 

^ The « Abbey Walk," apparently the same with the " Chapel 
Walk," mentioned in the Complaynt of Scotland, 1549. 



XX MEMOIR OP 

" of Sir Thomas Erskine (created Earl of Kellie in 
1619), and of divers aged scholars of the Scottish 
nation, that it was made and written by one Mr Robert 
Henderson, sometimes cheife schoole master in Dun- 
fermling;''* and he states that, " being very old, he died 
of a diarrhea or flux/' This he illustrates by an anec- 
dote of the closing scene of our Poet's life, extracted 
in the subjoined note.2 No date is assigned when this 
occurred, but we may place it a few years before the 
close of the Fifteenth century, about which time Scot- 

1 Waldron's Troilus, &c., p. xxx. Lond. 1798, 8vo. 

2 " For this Mr Robekt Henderson, he was, questionless, a 
learned and a witty man, and it is pitty we have no more of 
his works. Being very old, he dyed of a diarrhea or fluxe, of 
whom there goes this merry, though somewhat unsavoury tale ; 
that all phisitians having given him over, and he lying drawing 
his last breath, there came an old Woman unto him, who was 
held a witch, and asked him. Whether he would be cured? To 
whom he sayed. Very willingly. Then, quod she, there is a 
whikey tree in the lower end of your orchard, and if you will goe, 
and walke but thrice about it, and thrice repeate these wordes, 
* Whikey tree, Whikey tree, take away this Jluxe from me,^ you 
shall be presently cured. He told her, that beside he was ex- 
treme faint and weake, it was extreme frost and snow, and that 
it was impossible for him to go. She told him, that unless he 
did so, it was impossible he should recover. Mr Henderson then 
lifting upp himselfe, and pointing to an oaken table that was in 
the roome asked her, and seied, Gude dame, I pray ye, tell me if 
it would not do as well if 1 repeated thrice these words : Oaken 
bui'd, Oaken burd, garre me s*'^* a hard t***. The Woman 
seeing herself derided and scorned, ran out of the house in a 
great passion, and Mr Henderson, within halfe a quarter of an 
houre, departed this life." — (Waldron's Troilus, &c., p. xxx). 
The Whikey tree is the mountain-ash, called also the rowan-tree, 
which was noted in witchcraft. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XXI 

land was visited by pestilence for at least the third time 
during that century. Dunbar, in his well-known poem, 
" The Lament for the Death of the Makaris" (or poets), 
printed by Chepman and Myllar in 1508, and written 
about two years previously, says of Death that 

In Dunfermline he hes done roun 
Gud Maister Egbert Henrisoun. 

This epithet good is very appropriate, and may suggest 
that the two Poets had been personally acquainted. 
But whatever the year was in which his gentle spirit 
passed away, we need not doubt that his mortal remains 
found a resting-place within the precincts of the Abbey 
of Dunfermline/ 

In forming an estimate of Henryson's character as 
a poet, we should not overlook the early period when he 
flourished — soon after the middle of the Fifteenth cen- 
tury. In his minor poems there is great beauty in the 
versification, and much delicacy in the expression. His 
" Bludy Serk " is among the oldei^ examples we have of 
what is called Ballad Poetry. As a pastoral poem his 
" Robene and Makyne " is not less remarkable. Camp- 
bell calls it " the first known pastoral, and one of the best 
in a dialect rich with the favours of the pastoral muse."^ 
" Although his phraseology," it has been observed, " is 
peculiarly Scottish, it is evident that he had studied 
the writings of Chaucer as well as of King James I., and 

1 The woodcut at p. xxxvi is reduced from an unfinished etch- 
ing in 1815 by Patrick Gibson, landscape-painter, Edinburgh. 
' Specimens of the British Poets, vol. ii., p, 67. 

C 



XXll MEMOIR OF 

had moulded his versification accordingly/'^ Another 
genial writer sums up Henryson's character as follows : 
— " Of the works of this venerable man it is difficult, 
when we consider the period in which they were writ- 
ten, to speak in terms of too warm encomium. In 
strength, and sometimes even in sublimity of painting, 
in pathos and sweetness, in the variety and beauty of 
his pictures of natural scenery, in the vein of quiet and 
playful humour which runs through many of his pieces, 
and in that fine natural taste, which, rejecting the faults 
of his age, has dared to think for himself, he is alto- 
gether excellent."' It cannot be said that Henryson 
was possessed of the higher faculty of inventive genius ; 
and if in this respect he must be reckoned inferior to 
Dunbar, he may at least bear comparison with Lydgate 
and the other followers of their master, Chaucer. He 
is remarkable for an easy flowing style, and in his vivid 
perception of the beauties of external nature he is sur- 
passed by none of our older poets. 

Henryson, who could look abroad with the eye of a 
landscape-painter, capable of appreciating the objects 
around him, with all their varied associations, was 
also possessed of considerable descriptive powers. 
With what skill, for instance, has he marked the 
chief features of the Seasons, filling up his sketch 
with allusions to heathen mythology. First, we have 
Summer, clad in a jolly mantle of green, decked with 

^ Professor Aytoun's Ballads of Scotland, vol. i., p. Ix. 
2 P. F. Tytler's Lives of Scottish Worthies (in Murray's 
Family Library), vol. iii., p. 77. 



ROBERT HENRTSON. XXlll 

tlie flowers which tlie Goddess Flora has lent to him 
for his season, and Phoebus, with heat and moisture, 
has imparted genial influence with his golden beams. 
Then comes Harvest, when Ceres and the Goddess of 
Plenty have filled the barns with corn and wheat, and 
Bacchus has replenished in France and Italy the empty 
pipes or casks with generous wines and other liquors. 
Winter follows, when Eolus, the God of Winds, with 
his cold blasts has rent into small pieces the green 
mantle of glorious Summer; and the boughs being 
deprived of their foliage, the birds, nearly killed by 
the snow and sleet, have changed their sweet notes into 
mourning, while the hills and valleys are covered with 
hoar-frost, and even the wild beasts, escaping from 
the bare fields, creep into their dens and caves for 
shelter from the inclement weather. At length, upon 
the return of the vernal season, Spring appears, the 
flower columbine looks up from the clay, the birds 
resume their cheerful notes, and in this genial weather 
the Poet himself, rejoicing that the bitter blasts were 
gone, walks out to behold the flowers, to hear the 
singing of the thrush and nightingale, and to see the 
labourers all busy in their several occupations, — some 
building fences, some ploughing the fields, others sow- 
ing seed, and the harrows " hoppand " or following in 
their trace to cover the seed with earth .^ His descrip- 
tion of a summer landscape in the month of June is not 
less worthy of notice.' Yet have his Fables, in which 

^ The Preiching of the Swallow, p. 170. 

^ See the Prologue to the Lyoun and the Mous, p. 155. 



XXIV MEMOIR OF 

these and similar descriptions occur, not only been pro- 
nounced prolix and tedious,l but even to be scarcely 
worth preserving! 

The tale of Orpheus and Eurtdice is probably an 
early production of Henryson, and is founded upon the 
well-known fable in heathen mythology. The old classi- 
cal writers, Yirgil, Ovid, and Boethius, who relate the 
fable, vary considerably in minute particulars ; and in 
the Middle Ages the story was converted into the faery 
tale of Orfeo and Heurodis, and said to be one of the 
Breton Lais. Henryson adopts the classical story of 
Orpheus, son of Apollo and Calliope, one of the Nine 
Muses, and, being nourished by his mother the Goddess 
of Harmony, poetry and music were to him a natural 
inheritance. Eurydice, his wife, was Queen of Thrace, 
and, when carried off by Proserpine, Orpheus, in his 
desire to regain her, hangs his harp about his neck, and 
passes to the heavens to implore the aid of his father 
Apollo, and other deities of Olympus. Having searched 
the sun and the planets without success, in his downward 
journey he hears the heavenly melody and sound, accord- 
ing to the old poetic fable, of "The Music of the Spheres." 

1 Lord Hailes, — see infra, pp. xxx., 289. 

- Pinkerton ; who makes an exception in favour of " The 
Twa Llyce." Besides Dr Irving and ]Mr Fraser Tytler, who 
formed a better appreciation of these Fables, I may refer to an 
article on Henryson, which originally appeared in a local news- 
paper, the " Fifeshire Journal," and was reprinted by the author 
in his excellent little volume entitled "Lives of Eminent Men of 
Fife. By James Bruce." Edinburgh and Cupar-Fife, 1846, 
l2mo. 



ROBERT HEXRTSON. XXV 

He then directs liis course to the infernal regions, and 
after twenty days of solitary wandering he reaches the 
gates of hell ; and there, in the regions presided over 
by Pluto and Proserpine, he has to encounter numer- 
ous obstacles in his search for the lost Eurydice. By 
the charms of his music he overcomes all these difficul- 
ties, but finally deprives himself of his reward through 
his own impatience, in forgetfulness of the condition 
imposed by Pluto when permitting Eurydice to return 
with Orpheus to earth. Henryson has added a laboured 
moral application of the fable, which he acknowledges 
he had derived from the Commentary on Boethius by 
Nicholas Trivetus, an English Dominican monk of the 
Fourteenth century/ On the whole, the poem is chiefly 
remarkable as exhibiting the author's familiarity with 
the scholastic learning of his age. 

Henryson's poem The Testament of Cresseid is 
usually considered to be his chief performance. It dis- 
plays so much skill and genius that we regret it should 
have assumed the form of a continuation or supplement 
to the work of another author. The Troilus and Cre- 
seide of Chaucer was indeed one of the most popular 
poems in the English language. Warton, in his History 
of English Poetry, and Godwin in his Life of Chaucer, 
have each given an extended analysis of this dull yet 
beautiful poem, which to a modern reader may seem prolix 
and tedious,but such prolixity was reckoned in those days 
to be no defect. Its conclusion, however, w^is deemed 
^ See notes, infra, pp. 256, 303. 



XXVI MEMOIR OF 

to be unsatisfactory, in not exhibiting the false Cresseid 
as filled with penitence and remorse for her inconstancy 
to her devoted lover. It was with such a feeling as 
this that Henryson was induced, as he tells us, to 
resume the story where the English Poet breaks off, in 
order to complete the catastrophe by inflicting on 
Cresseid a suitable punishment. The circumstance of 
afflicting her with the loathsome disease of leprosy is 
regarded as opposed to the delicacy which pervades 
the original work. He has, notwithstanding this, pro- 
duced, as a distinct episode, a picture of touching 
pathos and beauty. 

Chaucer's Troilus and Creseide was one of his early 
productions. He himself professes to have taken it from 
the original Latin of an unknown author named Lollius. 
Tyrwhitt imagined that he must have been indebted 
for the story to the Filostrato of Boccaccio. It was 
evidently a work engrafted during the Middle Ages on 
*•' the tale of Troy divine ; " and it has engaged the atten- 
tion of other English poets besides Chaucer. In particu- 
lar, it forms the subject of a tragedy by Shakespeare; and 
Coleridge points out the fine distinction drawn between 
the vehement passion of Cresseid and the profound 
affection of Troilus, as what alone deserves the name 
of love.* This play was altered by Dryden ; and Sir 
Walter Scott, in republishing it, says, if the deli- 
cacy of Chaucer's ancient tale has suffered even in the 
hands of Shakespeare ; in those of Dryden it has, in his 

1 Coleridge's Literary Remains, vol. ii., p. 131 ; Table-Talk, 

vol. ii., p. 15. 



ROBERT HEXRYSON. XXVll 

alterations, undergone a far deeper deterioration, having 
changed coarseness into ribaldry, and " suppressed some 
of his finest poetry, and exaggerated some of his worst 
faults.'" 

To return to Henryson. His poem is included in all 
the early editions, and even in later collections, without 
any note of distinction, as if it had been the work of 
Chaucer himself, and is so enumerated in the list of his 
works by Leland, Bale, and other early writers, who 
seem never to have heard of the name of Henryson. 

The biographer of Chaucer says that "Henryson 
perceived what there was defective in the close of 
the story of Troilus and Creseide as Chaucer left it ; 
but that the Scottish poet was incapable of rising to 
the refinements or conceiving the delicacies of the 
English poet : though it must be admitted that in 
the single instance of the state of mind, the half- 
recognition, half-ignorance, attributed to Troilus in his 
last encounter with Creseide, there is a felicity of con- 
ception impossible to be surpassed. In some respects 
the younger poet has clearly the advantage over the 
more ancient. There is in his piece abundance of 
incident, of imagery and of painting, without tedious- 
ness, with scarcely one of those lagging, impertinent 
and unmeaning lines, with which the production of 
Chaucer is so frequently degraded." But Mr Godwin 
observes, that whatever eminence of merit may justly 
be ascribed to the " Testament of Cresseid," it does not 
belong to the " Troilus and Creseide." " The poem of 
^ Dryden's Works, by Scott, vol. vi., p. 230. 



XXVIU MEMOIR OF 

Henryson (he elsewhere remarks) has a degree of 
merit calculated to make us regret that it is not a per- 
formance standing by itself, instead of thus serving 
merely as an appendage to the work of another. The 
author has conceived, in a very poetical manner, his 
description of the season in which he supposes himself 
to have written this dolorous tragedy. The sun was 
in Aries ; his setting was ushered in with furious storms 
of hail ; the cold was biting and intense ; and the poet 
sat in a solitary little building which he calls his oraiure ; 
the evening star had just risen," &c.^ 

One chief division of Henryson's poetical remains con- 
sists of Moral Fables. From the earliest times this was 
a favourite form of composition, and probably had an 
Eastern origin.2 It was often employed for a two-fold 
purpose : one to afford instruction and amusement by the 
means of simple narration ; the other, to serve politi- 
cal purposes, by conveying satirical allusions under 
feigned representations, ^sop, although not the inven- 
tor, is the first recognised writer of such Apologues. 
He was a native of Phrygia, and is said to have flour- 
ished in the Fifth or Sixth century before the Christian 
era. The popular account of his deformity, and the 
incidents of his life, is itself a pure fable, mixed with 
some traditions, being the invention of a much later 

^ Godwin's Life of Chaucer, vol. i., chap. xvi. 

2 Examples of this are given in the introduction of a charm- 
ing little volume, " JEsop's Fables : a new Version, chiefly from 
original sources, by the Rev. Thomas James, M.A. With illus- 
trations by John Tenniel. London, John Murray, 1852," 12mo. 



ROBERT IIENRYSON. XXIX 

period, and is usually assigned to Planudes, a monk of 
the Fourteenth century. Collections of short tales and 
fables served to amuse all classes of the people during 
the Middle Ages ; and, after the invention of printing, 
such works in various forms, as might be expected, had 
an extensive circulation. The -<Esopian Fiibles, vrith 
those of Avianus, and other ancient writers, both in 
Greek and Latin, passed through many editions during 
the Fifteenth and early part of the following century, 
including translations into most European languages. 

It is a distinction which we may claim for Henryson 
that he was one of the first of the British Poets to 
employ such Fables as a distinct class of our popular 
literature. The particular collection which he may have 
used is matter of conjecture, and is not very important 
to determine. He avoids the common fictitious story 
of iEsop as a Greek slave of deformed shape and figure, 
with a swarthy complexion, — on the contrary, he de- 
scribes him, as he appeared to him in a dream, to 
be the fairest man he had ever beheld, and a Roman 
citizen of gentle blood. His description of iEsop's per- 
son is worthy of Chaucer. Phaedrus, in adopting the 
fables attributed to ^sop, added many tales of his own, 
in several instances, in order, by exposing the grievances 
of the Roman citizens, to denounce the vices and oppres- 
sions of their rulers. The Scottish Poet may, like him, 
have used the name of Msop for the sake of his authority : 
^sopi nomen sicubi interposuero 



Auctoritatis esse scito gratia.i 
^ Fabul. Lib. v. — Prologus. 



XXX MEMOIR OF 

Having, as he also says, employed the old ^sopian 
style, but with modern subjects, — 

Usus vetusto genere, sed rebus novis.^ 

It has been customary to speak of Henryson's Fables 
as prolix. ** Indeed prolixity," says Lord Hailes, " seems 
to be the general fault of our modern fabulists : from 
this charge I cannot except even La Fontaine himself. 
I have printed some of theMorals without the correspond- 
ing Fables. They are not so tedious, and they contain 
several curious particulars as to the state of Scotland." ^ 
Similar remarks, repeated by other editors, need not be 
quoted ; but I cannot overlook that the same grave and 
learned editor assigns, as no small recommendation of 
Henryson's poems, that " they have a moral turn, and are 
free from that licentiousness which debases the composi- 
tions of some of his contemporaries.'"^ His Fables, no 
doubt if compared with the terseness of Phsedrus, may 
be called tedious ; but it is this very fact complained of 
— the minute details and descriptions — that imparts to 
them so much freshness and vitality. Neither can it be 
denied that the old Scottish Makar exhibits great skill 
and ingenuity in narrating a story, and mixed with a 
degree of quiet humour which is very charming. 

Henryson's poems do not furnish any positive evi- 
dence of their respective dates, but in his applications 
to the Fables, when alluding to the oppression of the 
commons, the iniquitous mode of judicial proceedings, 

^ Fabul. Lib. v — Prologus. 

^ Ancient Scottish Poems, &c., Edinb. 1770, p. 280. 

3 lb., p. 273. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XXXI 

the bribery and corruption that everywhere prevailed, 
and the unsettled state of the kingdom, — and when he 
prays that the royal authority might be respected, — 
these all clearly point to the feeble and disturbed reign 
of King James the Third. 

In regard to the nature of Henry son's Fables, Dr 
Johnson, in his remarks on Gay, the English poet, 
says, — " The authors of such fables do not appear to 
have formed any distinct or settled notion. Phsedrus 
evidently confounds them with tales, and Gay both 
with tales and allegorical prosopopoeias. A fable or 
apologue, such as is now under consideration, seems to 
be, in its genuine state, a narrative in which beings 
irrational, and sometimes inanimate, arhores loquuntur^ 
non tantum ferce, are, for the purpose of moral instruc- 
tion, feigned to act and speak with human interests and 
passions."^ The Scottish Poet has most successfully 
represented his animals as invested with human attri- 
butes. It would be superfluous to multiply illustrations 
of this application. One or two examples may suffice : 
The little mouse (p. 217) wishing to get across a river to 
the corn-field opposite, runs about in distress, and cries 
out. Here is no boat, nor any mariners to row it, and 
if there were, I have no money to pay for the passage. 
Again, when the frog appears and offers her aid, fright- 
ened at her appearance, she insists, as a security against 
fraud, that the murder-oath be taken ; and at last, when 
this proved to be of no avail, the mouse, in her last 
extremity, calls out for a priest. In another Fable, 
^ Lives of the English Poets, vol. iii,, p. 129. 



XXXI I MExMOIR OF 

that of the Tod's Confession to the Wolf (p. 127), the 
cunning Fox, on a fine starry night, looking up at the 
stars and planets in the firmament, and studying their 
influence on human aff*airs, foresees that his evil life 
will bring him to a fatal end. He resolves, therefore, 
to shrive himself, and meets with " a worthy Doctor of 
Divinity" Friar Wolf Wait-skaith, telling his beads and 
repeating the Paternoster. He salutes him, and makes 
his confession in due form, when the Wolf enjoins him 
to true repentance, and grants him absolution, pro- 
vided he abstains from eating flesh until Easter. How 
the Fox contrived to evade this act of penance, and 
how he was punished, are best told in the Fable itself. 

Mr Thorns, in his preface to Reynard the Fox,i illus- 
trates the peculiarities of such Fables, with quotations 
from the Essay by Jacob Grimm, prefixed to his edition 
of the German " Eeinliart Fuchs " in 1834. I avail 
myself of Mr Thoms's version from the German to give 
the following extract, as the remarks are fully as applic- 
able to Henryson's Fables, in which animals, with human 
attributes, enact their parts, as to the similar stories 
incorporated in Eeynard : — 

" In the first place, the fable must exhibit the animals 
as being endowed with human reason, and initiated 
into all the customs and conditions of our mode of liv- 
ing, so that their behaviour has nothing at all odd in it. 
The murdered hen is carried on a bier, with cries of 
murder, before the king, who orders the service of the 
dead to be performed, and an epitaph to be placed over 
' In the Percy Society volume, see note, p. 277. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XXXUl 

her. The men of the fable do not hesitate to recognise 
the tonsure of the wolf, who speaks their language, 
when he prays to be received into the monastery. The 
peasant enters into a formal contract with the fox on 
the subject of his poultry, and in his trial with the ani- 
mal, recognises the lion as the common judge between 
them. But then, on the other hand, the peculiarities 
of the nature of the several animals must be brought 
into play, and made of good effect. Thus the cock 
sings standing upon one leg and shutting his eyes — a 
characteristic trait, entirely copied from nature. So, 
in his battle with the wolf, does the fox avail himself of 
all his natural cunning. In like manner, the cat's 
deeply-impressed pro[)ensity for mice, the bear's fond- 
ness for honey, are necessary levers of the fable, from 
which the most taking situations arise. Without this 
uniting into one of two in reality opposing elements, 
the animal fable {Theirf abel) csnanot exist. Whosoever 
would invent stories in which the animals merely com- 
ported themselves like men, but were occasionally gifted 
with the names and forms of animals, would fail as 
completely in catching the spirit of the fable, as he who 
should attempt to exhibit the animals with all the truth 
of nature, without human address, and without the 
aimed-at action of men. If the animals of the fable be 
without any smack of humanity, the fable becomes 
absurd ; if they are without traces of their animal 
nature, it becomes wearisome."^ 

^ The History of Reynard the Fox, from Caxton's edition 
in 1841 (Percy Society): Load. 1844, pp. xii. and xiii. 



XXXI V MEMOIR OF 

Mr Thorns also remarks on this subject, that Grimm 
shows very clearly the impossibility of the popular 
stories, in which animals are the actors, being in their 
nature satirical ; which, no doubt, is correct to a certain 
extent in regard to the Fables, but the tendency to 
satire attributed to them is usually exhibited in the 
Morals, or applications. Even Henryson, in his Mor- 
alities, indulges, as already observed, in occasional allu- 
sions to the state of Scotland — under, I presume, the 
reign of King James the Third. 

In Henryson's subjoining a Morality to each Fable, 
it is scarcely necessary to remark that this was no 
novelty. The Eev. Mr James, in his excellent new 
version of ^sop,^ says of his work, — " An essential 
departure has been made from the common plan of the 
English Fabulists, who have generally smothered the 
original Fable under an overpowering weight of their 
own commentary. Of course, when Fables were first 
spoken, they were supposed to convey their own moral 
along with them, or else they were spoken in vain ; and 
even when first written, the application given was that 
of the particular occasion, not of general inference. 
When in later times, Morals were formally added, they 
were always brief, and mostly in a proverbial form." 
But during the Middle Ages, when tales and fables 
were employed for moral and religious improvement, 
the system of Moralization was carried to an excess. 
Long, indeed, before Henryson's time it became a com- 
mon practice for the monks and preaching friars to 
1 See note 2, supra, p. xxviii. 



ROBERT HENRYSON. XXXV 

introduce into their discourses popular tales, fables, and 
legends of miracles, in order to excite the attention of 
their audience, while such fables and legends were 
" moralized generally by attaching to them mystical 
significations." ^ The Scottish poet thus alludes to this 
practice at the close of his last fable, " The Paddok and 
the Mouse:" — 

Adew, my freind; and gif that ony speiris 
Of this Fabill sa schortlie I conclude, 

Say thow / left the laifunto the Freiris 
To mak exempill and ane similitude. 

But in no instance, perhaps, was this system of morali- 
zation carried to a greater excess, by fantastic analysis, 
than in the popular collection of stories known as the 
" Gesta Romanorum." 

I have only further to notice, that selections from 
Henryson's poems, with more or less accuracy, were 
printed by Allan Ramsay in his " Evergreen,'* 1724, 
by Lord Hailes in " Ancient Scottish Poems," 1770, and 
by James Sibbald in the "Chronicle of Scottish Poetry," 
1804. Besides single specimens in various collections, 
a volume was printed for the Bannatyne Club in 1824, 
which contains Robene and Makyne, and a reprint of 
the 1592 edition of the Testament of Cresseid. A 
similar volume, printed for the Maitland Club in 1832, 
contains the Fables from the later edition of J621. 

^ Preface to " Selection of Latin Stories, of the Thirteenth 
and Fourteenth Centuries," edited for the Percy Society (No. 
xxviii , 1842) by Mr Thomas Wright, who has in various publi- 
cations so ably illustrated the mediaeval literature of England. 



XXXVl 



MEMOIR OF ROBERT HENRYSON. 



In the present volume the whole of Henryson's Poems 
and Fables are collected for the first time. The text 
is uniformly given from the earliest and best copies ; 
and the principal various readings are printed out in 
the Notes. It will not escape the notice of an atten- 
tive reader that the author uses a good deal of licence in 
altering or curtailing words for the sake of the rhyme. 
One or two doubtful poems are included, from the wish 
not to omit anything that has been attributed to him. I 
might also have given, upon conjecture, a few anony- 
mous pieces, but it was not desirable to swell the volume 
to an unreasonable size. 





APPENDIX. 



No. I.— A LIST OF PERSONS OF THE NAME 
OF HENRYSON, FROM THE MIDDLE OF 
THE FOURTEENTH TO THE END OF THE 
FIFTEENTH CENTURY. 

The following list might have been enlarged by the 
addition of other persons whose names occur in various 
records without any special distinction. Those which 
are enumerated are quite sufficient to shew that the sur- 
name was not uncommon, at the time when the Poet 
flourished, in several parts of Scotland. In the earlier 
instances, the name occasionally appears in its primitive 
form, the Son of Henry (filius Henrici.) It is by no 
means likely that either the parentage or the descendants 
of the Poet will ever be clearly ascertained, but in any 
future investigations the subjoined list may prove useful 
for supplying some connecting link : — 

James Henryson, — Jacobus filius Henrici, in Decem- 
ber 1364— (Chamberlain Rolls, vol. i. pp. 413, 414). 

William Henryeson Senior, appointed by Edward 

the Third Chamberlain (Camerarius) of the Castle of 

Lochmaben, upon the death of Humfi-ey Bohun, Earl of 

Hereford and Essex, 17th March 1372-3. Workmen were 

d 



XXXVlll APPENDIX. 

authorised to be taken, under his inspection, for repara- 
tion of the castle, 1 2th May 1374. But he received orders 
from the King to resign his oflSce in favour of Thomas 
Ughtred, Chevaler, 3d February 1376-7— (Rotuli Scotiae, 
vol. i. pp. 957, 963, 980). 

John Hexryson, — Johannes filius Henrici, burgess 
of Edinburgh, is mentioned in the years 1387, 1392, and 
1395— (Charters of St Giles, pp. 23-28 ; Chamberlain 
Rolls, vol ii. p. 286 ; Reg. Mag. Sig., p. 179). 

James Henrysox, — " Combustio Jacobi Henrici apud 
Perth, A.D. 1407 "— (Registrum Glasguense, p. 316). 
Might not this person have been another of the Lol- 
lards, like James Resby, who was burned as a heretic 
at this time? — (See Knox's History, vol. i. p. 496). 

Mr John Henryson, — Johannes Henrici, Bachalarius 
(in the earliest list of members of the University of St 
Andrews), in the year 1413, and Magister in 1414— 
(St Andrews Registers). 

John Henryson, — Safe-conduct to John Henryson, 
with four servants, to go to England, 23d May and 
12th July 1424— (RotuU Scotic^, vol ii. pp. 247, 249). 

John Henryson of Dumbarton, named as one of the 
assessors for settling a dispute between Dumbarton and 
Renfrew, 21st August 1424 — (Hamilton of Wishaw's 
Lanark and Renfi-ew, p. 282.) 

Robert Henryson, one of the masters of a merchant 
vessel called Nicholas of Aberdeen, carrying salmon to 
London, had a safe-conduct, 28th October 1434. The 
same person, styled a merchant of Scotland, is included 
in another safe- conduct, 19th January 1440-1 — (Rotuli 
Scotia3, vol. ii. pp. 290, 367). 

Alexander Henryson, carnlfix Regis (at Kyntore, 
&c.), in 1437— (Chamberlain RoUs, vol. iii. pp. 366-388). 

Dominus Adam Henrici, chaplain of the altar of St 
Duthac, In St Giles's Church, Edinburgh, 13th February 
1437-8— (Charters of St Giles, &c , p. 59). 



APPENDIX. XXXIX 

Johannes Henrici, gardiner (ortolanus) at Doiiii, 
A.D. 1451— (Chambeiiain Rolls, vol. iii., p. 552). 

Domiuus Patricius Henrici, capellauus, 7th Feb- 
ruary 1453-4 — (Registrum de Aberbrothok, p. 82). 

Thomas Henrison, Licentiate in the University of 
St Andrews, 1465. Evidently the same as Henry- 
son pauper, — a term applied to students who paid no 
fees, — a Determinant, in 1462— (St Andrews Registers). 

Dominus Johannes Henrici capellanus, natus de 
Kilbimy, incorporated in the University of Glasgow, in 
1469 — (Munimenta, &c.. vol. ii. p. 76). 

William and Alexander Henrisons, 3d March 
1471-2— (Acta Auditorum, p. 22). 

Henryson, pauper, a Determinant in the Uni- 
versity of St Andrews, in 1475 — (St Andrews Registers). 

Thomas Henrison, and his spouse. Confirmation of 
Charter by Robert Logan of Restalrig, in 1467, of a 
land in Leith, 18th October 1477— (Reg. Mag. Sig., B. 
8, No. 44). Thomas Henrisone de Leith, 22d January 
1488-9— (Acta Domin. Concil., p. 213). 

Robert Henryson, Edinbm-gh, in 1478 — (Charters 
of St Giles, pp. 137, 150). Christian Govain, and 
umquhile Robert Henrisone, her spouse, Edinburgh, 9th 
November 1479— (Acta Domin. Concil., p. 43). 

Sir Walter Henrison, chaplain of the altar of St 
Kentigern, in the parish church of Jedburgh, penult 
August 1479— (Regist. Mag. Sig. lib. ix. No. 7). 

Robert Henrisone, Ballivus de Lochmaben, — ^In the 
Parliamentary proceedings against Alexander, Duke of 
Albany (brother of King James the Third), 7th October 
1479, in the summons executed on the 1st, 9th, and 
25th May 1479, the name of Robert Henrisone appears 
as a witness. In the latter instance the summons was 
proclaimed at the borough cross of Lochmaben, being 
witnessed, among others, " venerabilibus viris Magistro 
Ricardo Drummond rectori de Penersax, Roberto Hen- 



wmm 



Xl APPENDIX. 

risone ballivo de Lochmaben," &c. — (Acts, Pari, of 
Scotland, vol. ii. pp. 12, 127). 

Umquhile Thomas Henryson, wool pakker (or mer- 
chant?) at Bruges, 30th March 1479— (Acta Audit. , p. 28). 

James, Robert, and William Hexrisones, tenants 
of the lands of Trekware (Traquair), 23d March 1481-2 
— (Acta Auditorum, p. 96). 

Thomas Henrison, burgess of Haddington, 19th 
May 1484— (Acta Auditorum, p. 138 *). 

EOBERTUS HeNRICI Ct JOHANNES HeNRICI fiUuS SUUS, 

10th October 1486— (Regist. de Aberbrothok, p. 248). 

Elizabeth Peblis, spouse and executrix of umquhile 
George Henrisone, burgess of Edinbm-gh, 10th July 
1492— (Acta Domin. Concil., p. 247). 

Robert Henderson, one of the tenants and inhabit- 
ants of the lands of Petscotty and Dura (in Fife), 2d 
September 1493— (Acta Domin. Concil., p. 376). 

David Henrison, litster, bm-gess of Edinbm-gh, 11th 
July 1494— (Acta Domin. Concil., p. 374). 

Dave Henrisone, witness before the Regality Court 
of Dunfermline, relative to the disposal of a piece of 
ground, 2d February 1497-8— (Regality Court Books). 



No. II.— THE LAISTDS AND BARONY OF 
FORDELL. 

FoRDELL is in the parish of Dalgetty, or the western 
part of the county of Fife, about six miles from Dunferm- 
line, three from Inverkeithiug, and the same distance 
from Aberdour. The house of Fordell is beautifully 
situated, and from the higher grounds the views are 
very extensive, commanding at one sweep the whole 



APPENDIX. Xli 

opposite coast of Mid- Lothian, with Inch Colme and 
other islands in the Fu*th of Forth. The present man- 
sion-house is a large and commodious building, of the 
middle of last century,^ when architecture was at a very 
low ebb, with some additions recently made. 

A little to the north-west is the old Castle or House of 
Fordell. It appears originally to have been a building 
of the fifteenth century, when mansion-houses retained a 
castellated form for defence. Among some old papers 
which I lately had an opportunity to examine, relating 
to the family of Spittell of Luchat, there was a notarial 
deed, on the 5th of June 1566, according to which, 
" William Spittell, fiar of the lands of Luquheit, passit 
to the lands and manis of Wester Fordell, the place and 
habitation of James Henderson of Fordell, quhar Robert 
Peris, James On-ok, and sundrye other masones and 
warkmen war lawborand and biggand ane foundation of 
ane house of ane gret quantite ; " and protested against 
the same in the name of " William Spittell, his gudschir, 
who had a part of the said lands of Fordell in heritage ; 
and the same were not separated and divided." The 
result of this protest is unknown. 

But two years later we find, from Birrell's Diary, that, 
on " the 3d day of Junij 1568, being Thursday, James 
Henderson of Fordell had his place of Fordell brunt by 
ane suddaine fyre, both the old worke and the new." — 
(Diary of Robert Birrell, in Dalyell's Fragments of 
Scotish History, p. 16.— Edinb., 1798 : 4to. 

The walls of the " old work " not being easily destroyed 
were no doubt restored; while the " new work" may have 
been that which was in progress two years previously. 
The walls of the oldest or western portion still exhibit 



* A view of FordeU House is given in the Scots Magazine for 
January 1813. 



xlii 



APPENDIX. 



unmistakeable tokens of this burning. Above the en- 
trance-door is the date 1567, with the family arms cut 
in stone. The picturesque appearance of this house or 
castle, with its stone turrets and old fashioned roof, has 
been well preserved, and the interior restored in a satis- 
factoiy manner — considering that, within recollection, 
the large principal hall had been converted into a stable 
and byre for cattle. 

The following wood- cut exhibits the style and charac- 
ter of this old building. It is given from a photograph 
taken some years ago, kindly communicated by Dr E. 
Henderson from his Dunfermline Collections : — 




FOEDELL CASTLE, FROM THE ^-OETE-EJ*.ST, 



APPENDIX. xliii 

Ncarliand is the old chapel, which, according to the 
charter of 1511, was dedicated to St Therotiis, and was 
latterly converted into a family burying-vault. A cen- 
tury later, the name is given as Theretus. But the name 
of this Saint does not occur in the Romish Calendar. 
There is also an ancient well called St Eirret's well, a 
corruption of that Saint's name. 

As already stated, at p. xvii the lands of Fordell in 
the early part of the thirteenth century belonged to the 
ancient family of De Camera. A copy of the charter by 
which Richard, son of Hugh De Camera, with the con- 
sent of his son Richard, conveyed a grant of land to the 
monastery of Inch Colme, may here be given. The names 
of the witnesses seem to fix its date between the years 
1202 and 1214. Hugh, Bishop of Dunkeld, is said to 
have died in 1214. Patrick, Sub-prior of Durham, suc- 
ceeded as Abbot of Dunfermline in 1202 

" Universis Sancte Matris filijs et fidelibus literas 
istas visuris vel audituris Ricardus filius Hugonis de 
Camera salutem eternam in Domino Noverit Universitas 
vestra me assensu et consensu A . . . sponse mee 
et Ricardi heredis mei dedisse et concessisse et hac mea 
carta confirmasse Deo et Ecclesie Sancti Columbe de 
Insula et Canonicis ibidem Deo servientibus et servituris 
in perpetuum unam bovatam terre in territorio de For- 
dal illam scilicet Que jacet juxta mare inter terram de 
Dalgathin et terram de Lowchald per rectas divisas suas 
et unum toftum et croftum in eadem villa mea de Fordall 
cum commuuibus asiamentis et communi pastura ad 
tantam terram pertinen. pro anima mea et anima A . . . 
sponse mee et omnium antecessorum et successorum 
meorum tenend. de me et heredibus meis in puram et per- 
petuam elemosynam libere et quiete ab omni auxilio et 
secular! exactione Quare volo ut predicti Canonici pre- 
nominatam terram ita libere quiete et honorifice teneant 



IM 



xliv APPENDIX. 

et possideant sicut aliqua elemosyna melius et quietus et 
houorificentius tenetur et possidetur in regno Scotiae his 
testibus Hugone Episcopo Dunkeldense Willielmo 
Abbate de Saucta Cruce P. Abbate de Dunfermline 
Alexandre vicecomite de Stirling Thoma de Lund}Tie 
et multis aliis." ^ 

The Reverend Mr Ross, who has made a collection of 
the old deeds connected with this celebrated Monastery 
of Inch Colme, founded by Alexander the First, about the 
year 1123, discovered in the Fordell charter-room a con- 
temporary copy, if not the original, of the above deed. 

In the Chartulary of Inch Colme there is also a charter 
of King Alexander the Third, dated at Dunfermline the 1st 
December in the 31st year of his reign (1280), confirming 
the donation made by William Dod, burgess of Inver- 
keithing, and Matilda, his spouse, to the monastery of 
Inch Colme of the mills of Fordell: — "Deo et Monasterio 
de Insula Sancti Columba? et canonicis ibidem servienti- 
bus . . . de molendinis de Fordell cum tota terra ad 
dicta molendina pertineii." 

The lands of Fordell may have reverted to the Crown, 
but when or in what way they became subdivided until 
erected into a separate barony has not been ascertained. 
Among other lands Alexander Hepburn, son and appa- 
rent heir of Mariota Normanville of Gargunnock, had a 
charter of the lands of Fordell, in Fife, last May 1480— 
(Reg. IMag. Sig., Lib. 9, No. 9). 

A note of the Fordell charters granted in conjunct 
fee to JMr James Henryson, bnrgess of Edinburgh, and 
his wife, Helen Baty, may be here added from the 
Register of the Great Seal — 

1 Registrum Coenobii de Inch Colm : Impensis Walteri M'Farlan de 
eodem. In ipsius usum transcriptum 1739, folio, pages 10-11. (Adv- 
Library, Jac. v., 4, 24 ; 35, 2, 5. M'Farlan's transcript was made from 
the original Chartulary, which was then in the possession of the Earl 
of Moray, but is now supposed to be lost. 



I 



APPENDIX. Xlv 

1. From Alexander Drummond of Ardmore, of two- 
seventh parts of the lands of Fordalis, with his part of 
the mill of Fordall,— 6th March 1510-11. 

2. From James Levingstone de Manerstoun, of two- 
seventh parts and his part of the mill,— 7th April 1511. 

3. From Elizabeth Erth, Lady of Plane, with consent 
of David Somerville, her son and heir-apparent, of one- 
seventh part of the lands and mill, — Same date. 

4. From Cristina Hepburn senior portioner of the 
lands and barony of Fordall, with consent of John Kirk- 
wood her spouse, of one-thii-d part of one- seventh part 
of the said lands and barony of Fordalis, with her part 
of the mill, and the mansion house, " una cum capitall 
messuagio terrarum et baroniae praedictarum cum perti- 
nentibus," — dated in April 1511. 

These lands of the Eastertoun of Fordell, called Mekill 
Fordell, the Westertoun of Fordell, Lethame, and Litill 
Fordell, with the mill and its pertinents, " una cum 
advocatione et donatione Capellae Sancti Theroti . . . 
quje fuerunt dicti Magistri Jacobi prius hereditarise et 
per ipsura conquestae a personis subscriptis " (namely 
the persons above-mentioned), were erected, by a charter 
under the Great Seal, " in unam integram et liberam 
baroniam," called Fordell, in favour of Mr James Henri- 
sone, and Elene, his spouse, in conjunct fee, and their 
heirs, — dated at Edinburgh 1st May 1511. 

The lands of Fordell had evidently been subdivided 
among co-heiresses, and this may explain such propor- 
tions as one thu*d of one-seventh part, &c. In reference 
to No. II. of the above notices we find that a protracted 
action was in dependence, for about ten years, before 
the Lords of Council and Lords Auditors, between Henry 
Levingston of Mannerstouu (and after his death by his 
son John), and Christian Levingstoun his sister, wife of 
the late William Scot (and their sons Alexander and 



Xlvi APPENDIX. 

David Scot), regarding " the males and denities of tlie 
ferd part of the landis and barony of Fordale, the seventh 
part except," — 31st January 1484-5 to the 28th Novem- 
ber 1494. (Acta Dom. Concil. and Acta Audit). 

That the Justice- Clerk had not obtained the fee-simple 
of the whole barony of Fordell appears from these sub- 
sequent charters. 

5. From Alexander Elphingston, " De tota et Integra 
tertia parte septimas partis teri'arum et Baronire de 
Fordell cum molendino et pertinen. earundem .... 
super resiguationem Alexandri Elphingstoun," — Edin- 
burgh, 11th January 1511-12.. 

6. From Maijory Hepburn, lady portioner of Fordell, 
to Helen Batye in liferent, and George Henderson of 
Fordell, her son, and his heirs, of her third part of the 
seventh part, &c. in a charter of confirmation, — dated at 
Falkland in June 1530. 

7. There is preserved two copies of an indentm-e be- 
tween "Allan Stewart, provost of Edinburgh for the tyme, 
Elene Baty, his spouse, and George Heniysoun, her sone, 
on the tane part, and WiUiam Spetale of Luchatt on the 
tother part," relating to the excambion of their miln of 
Fordale for the said William's lands of Fordale, made at 
the castle of Striveling 19th August 1523. It will be 
seen from p. xli that the Spittalls of Luchat in 1566 
still retained some part of these lands in heritage. 



No. in.— THE HENDERSONS OF FORDELL. 

Mr James Henryson, the founder of the Fordell 
family, was bom about the year 1462. George Craw- 
furd supposes him "to have been an Edinburgh man. 



APPENDIX. Xlvii 

but come of the Hendersons of Waterside, near Dum- 
fries."^ Tliat he was a native of Edinburgh is highly 
probable. I find that he went abroad to complete his 
legal studies, and that his name occurs in the registers 
of the University of Paris in 1483 and again in the 
following year as a bachelor of arts,^ being entered 
as of the diocese of St Andrews, which at that time in- 
cluded Edinburgh and the Lothians. On his return, he 
settled in Edinburgh, and speedily obtained an extensive 
practice as an advocate before the Lords Auditors, and 
the Lords of Council. Thus it is on record that Mr James 
Henrysone, advocate, was procurator for Sir Oliver Sin- 
clareof Roslin, knycht, 23d October 1490 ; ^ was forspeaker 
for Archibald, Earl of Angus, Chancellor of Scotland, 1st 
June 1493 ; * was one of the procm-ators appointed by 
William, Archbishop of St Andrews, 6th December 
1494 ; ^ and on the 9th of that mouth was advocate for 
our Soverane Lord, and forspeaker for Sir Alexander 
Stewart of Garlics, knycht.*^ On the 7th of December 
1493, "Magister Jacobus Henrisoun effectus est bur- 
gensis et frater gilde, et finiuit species et vinam, gratis." ^ 
Henryson continued to hold this office of King's 
Advocate till the death of Llr Richard Lawson in 1507, 
when he succeeded as Justice-Clerk. It has been asserted 
that the lands of Fordell had been wadsett^ (a term applied 
to heritable property alienated under reversion) by the 
Poet in his difficulties, and that the Justice-Clerk was 
enabled at length to redeem his paternal estate. The 
existing documents all tend to disprove this groundless 
statement. Mr James Henryson, burgess of Edinburgh, 

1 MS. Collections for the Baronage of Scotland, foUo, Advocates 
Library. 

2 Registers of the University of Paris. 

3 Acta Dominorum Coucilii, p. 156. 

*Ib., p. 170. 6lb., p. 192. 6lb. p. 194. 

7 Edinburgh Burgess Registers. § Mortgaged. 



xlviii APPENDIX. 

and Clerk of Justiciaiy, had various charters under the 
Great Seal, of property in different counties, before he 
acquired by purchase, in separate portions, from several 
proprietors, the lands of Fordell,^ when the whole, as 
already noticed, were erected, by a charter under the 
Great Seal, into a barony in his favour, and of Helen Baty, 
his spouse. Having accompanied King James the Fourth 
in his fatal expedition to Floddon, among the victims 
slain were the Justice- Clerk, and his eldest son, in Sep- 
tember 1513. His widow survived him for nearly twenty 
years, and married for her second husband Allan Stewart, 
Provost of Edinburgh. Her son, George Henryson of 
Fordell, was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh in Sep- 
tember 1520. According to the pedigree given in the 
Baronage of Scotland, he died in 1542, and was suc- 
ceeded by a son, also named George (William ? see next 
page), who was killed at the battle of Pinkie in 1547. 
James, son and heir of George Henderson, long retained 
possession of the Fordell estates. 

It is unnecessary for my purpose to enter further upon 
the history of the Hendersons of Fordell, except to refer 
to the detailed account of the family given in Sir Robert 
Douglas's Baronage of Scotland, pp. 513-520. But a 
few incidental notices, there overlooked, may be added in 
this place. " Georgius Henrisoue filius et heres quon- 
dam Magistri Jacobi Henrisone effectus est burgensis efc 
confi-ater glide et finiuit pro libertate, xx°— (Burgess 
Register). Another son, James, is mentioned in the 
sasine of a land in the King's Street of Edinburgh, as 
" Jacobus Henrisoun filius Helene Baty, sororis et uue 
heredum quondam Jacobi Baty," which previously be- 
longed to Patrick Henrison, 12th March 1520-1— (Foular's 



1 Regist. Mag. Sig. vol. xvi. fol. 51, vol. xvii. fols. 6, 7, 8, 70. The 
dates from 8th of March 1510-11 to the 11th of January 1511-12. 



APPENDIX. xlix 

Protocol Book.) There is a contract of marriage between 
Thomas Stewart of Galston, and Isabella Henrisone, 
daughter of Helen Batv, relict of the late Mr James 
Henrisone de Fordell, 26th November 1526— (Protocol 
Book, J. Foular, fol. 286). The marriage of her mother 
with Allan Stewart, Provost of Edinburgh, previously to 
September 1520, is mentioned above. In March 1546-7, 
it appears that the hereditary provostship of the borough 
of Inverkeithiug had been confeiTed in the Queen's 
name upon William Henderson, son and heir of George 
Henrisone de Fordell, but both he and his father 
having been killed at the battle of Pinkie, Queen 
Maiy confirmed the gift under the Privy Seal, 12th 
February 1562-3, in favour of James Henrysoune, 
apparently by mistake said to be son and heir of 
the said late William Henrysoune— (Reg. Seer. Sig., 
vol. XX. fol. 82b). Edward Henryson, who married 
Helene Sinclair, daughter of umquhile Edward Sin- 
clair, and sister of John Sinclair of Dryden, was pro- 
bably related to the Fordell family. She died in July 
1569-70. In his own and his wife's name, he raised an 
action before the Commissaries for various things, — 
clothes, silver cup, &c., left in legacy to him by Helen 
Baty, and by George Henryson of Fordell, in their 
latter wills. These wills are not known to be pre- 
served. In the last will of this Helen Sinclair, ap- 
pointing her husband, Edward Henryson, only executor, 
reference is made to children, but no names are given — 
(Edinb. Comm. Register, 7th February 1572-3). 

James Henderson of Fordell had a large family. 
According to the Baronage, four of his sons obtained the 
honour of knighthood ; and the dignity of Knight Baronet 
of Nova Scotia was conferred on the family by Charles 
the Second, 15th July 1664. Sir John Henderson of 
Fordell, Baronet, the last of the family mentioned by 



r 



1 APPENDIX. 

Douglas (in his continuation in 1798), died 12th Decem- 
ber 1817. His brother, Sir Robert Bruce Henderson of 
Earlshall, succeeded to the title, but on his death in 1833, 
without male issue, it became extinct. The Fordell 
estates, which first devolved on Su- John's daughter, Ann, 
the second wife of Admiral Sir Philip CharlesjDm-ham, 
G.C.B. (who died in 1845 at the age of eighty-two, 
and his wife in the same year), are now in the posses- 
sion of George William Mercer Henderson, Esq. 



No. IV.-NOTICES OF THE CHIEF PERSONS OF 
THE NAME OF HENRYSON OR HENDERSON, 
DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 

Laurence Henbisone,— In 1508 or 1509 his name 
occurs in a sasine, as son and heLr of the late David 
Henrison, litstar, or dyer. John Henryson is also 
styled son and heir of the late David Henrison, litstar, 
in another sasine, which was disputed by his brother 
Laurence Henrison, 18th February 1512-13 — (J. 
Foular's Protocol Book, vol. i.) Laurence was admitted 
a burgess of Edinburgh in the year 1517. 

Thomas Hendersone, — Incorporated in the Uni- 
versity of Glasgow, in 1511. 

Robert Henrisoun, — Robert Hem-isoun, son and 
heir of the late George Henrisoun, burgess of Edinbm'gh, 
and heir of the late Robert Plenrisoun, his grandfather 
(avi sui), also burgess of Edinburgh, gives sasine of a 
certain annual- rent and two booths in Edinburgh to 
IVIi' James Henrison de Fordell, clerk of Justiciary, 
11th December 1511 — (Foular's Protocol Book, vol. i.) 
Robert Henrisone, son and heir of the late George 



APPENDIX. li 

Henrisone, burgess of Edinburgh, had asasine of a house on 
the north side of the High Street, near the Netherbow, 
&c., with consent and assent of Alexander Henrysone, 
his brother-german, dated at Edinburgh, 15th December 
1515— (Vincent Strachan's Protocol Book). He was 
admitted a burgess of Edinburgh in 1517. 

Jacobus Henrisone, et quondam Thomas Henrisone, 
pater suus, 11th May 1514 — (H. Strachan's Protocol 
Book). 

EoBERT Henryson, Treasurer of the burgh of Edin- 
burgh in 1522, and 2d August 1530— (Charters of St 
Giles's Church, pp. 216, 253). 

WiLLELMus Henderson, — Incorporated in the Uni- 
versity of Glasgow, in 1521. 

Mr Henry Henryson became "commaster" and 
successor to Mr David Vocat as Rector of the Grammar 
School of Edinburgh, the appointment being made by 
George, Bishop of Dunkeld, Abbot of Holyrood, with 
consent of the Chapter, 4th September 1524. It was 
confirmed by a charter under the Great Seal, 21st March 
1529-30, which is printed in the appendix to Charters 
of Holyrood, p. 256, and in Steven's High School of 
Edinburgh, p. 38. In terms of his appointment, Henry- 
son was bound to attend " at hie solemne festivale tymes 
with us, the said Abbot, and our successaris, at hie 
mass and even sang, with his surples upoun him, to do us 
service," &c. It would seem from the circumstance of 
his maiTiage that such attendance did not imply his 
being in priest's orders. This appears from a sasine 
in favour of Mariote Gawy, spouse of Mr Henry 
Henrisoun, of a tenement which belonged to the said Mr 
Henry, lying on the south side of the King's Street 
of le Cowgate, Edinburgh, dated 10th April 1529 — 
(Foular's Protocol Book, vol. ii.) But in the year 
1534, Henryson, being accused upon a charge of heresy. 



lii APPENDIX. 

fled to England, where he died.— See Knox's History, 
vol. i. p. 57, and the authorities there quoted in the 
foot-note. 

WiLLELMUs Henderson, — Incorporated in the Uni- 
versity of Glasgow, in 1525. 

George Henrisoun, one of the Bailies of Edin- 
burgh, 19th March 1535-36— (Charters of St GUes's 
Church, p. 236). 

Henricus Hendirsone, — Incorporated in the Uni- 
versity of Glasgow, in 1536. 

Johannes Henrison, filius et heres quondam Lauren- 
tii Henrisone effectus est burgensis, 1st December 1540 
— (Burgess Regist. of Edinbm-gh). 

Robert Henrysoun and Margaret Caid, his spouse, 
had a charter of the King's lauds of Drone and its 
mill, in Fife,— 6th April 1529 ; 6th January 1541-2. 

Sir Edward Henryson, musician, was admitted to 
a prebend in St Giles's Church, before 21st October 1542. 
From his skill in music he became, in November 1555, 
" Maister of the Sang Scole of Edinburgh," and is also 
styled " Minister Chori." He was again presented to 
one of the prebends in this church ; and after the 
Reformation he continued to hold his benefice until his 
death, 15th of August 1579 — (Edinburgh Commissariat 
Register; Charters of St Giles's Church, pp. ci., 254-270.) 

Mr John Henderson, student of theology in King's 
College, Aberdeen, 1547-1549— (Fasti Aberdon., p. 264). 

Mr James Henryson, burgess, notaiy, and common 
clerk of the burgh of Edinburgh, 7th January 1552-3 — 
(Charters of St Giles's Church, p. 189.) 

WiLLiELMUs Henrison olim servus Davidis Lynde- 
say de Mont militis effectus est burgensis, et datm' eidem 
gratis^ &c., 17th Maij 1555 — (Burgess Register of Edin- 
burgh.) AVilliam Hendersone, Dingwall Pursevant, 
1st October 1558 — (Treasurer's Accounts). 



APPENDIX. liii 

Jacobus IIenrisoun, Rector de Kinkell, 4th May 
1556— (Alexander King's Protocol Book). 

Mr Edward Henkyson, Doctor of Laws. See infra^ 
p. Iviii. 

Mr John Henderson, and Mariot Sinclair, his 
spouse, charter of the lands of Bengourlaw, vulgo sex 
oxingangland^ in the barony of Calder, 3d August 1564 
— (William Stewart's Protocol Book). 

Sir Alexander EIenrisone, chaplain and master of 
the hospital of Trinity College Church, Edinburgh, from 
the 7th March 1549-50, to the last of May 1580— 
(Registrum Eccl. Colleg., pp. 113-235). 

Mr David Henrisoun, chaplain of Balky (in Forfar- 
shire), and Vicar of Rossay (Rossy), who died in 
February 1569-70. In his last will he appointed his 
brothers, William, Thomas, and John Henrysouns, his 
executors, and his cousin Mr Edward Henrysoun, 
Advocate and one of the Commissaries of Edinburgh, as 
an oversman — (Edinburgh Commissariat Register, 17th 
February 1569-70). 

Mr William Henderson, sometime Prior of the 
Blackfriars, Stirling, brother of Mr Edward Henderson, 
was summoned before the Privy Council for having 
obtained an informal licence " to go to the parts beyond 
sea," 20th December 1576. On the following day his 
brother Mr Edward Henderson produced the king's 
licence in favour of "Mr William Hendersone, prebendar 
of the College Kirk of Restalrig, permitting him to 
remain in the parts of France for exercising his study," 
dated 20th May, Anno Regis 9, [1576]. 

Alexander Henrysoun, reidare at Kilmaurs, Ayr- 
shire, 1574-1576— (Registers of Ministers). 

Thomas Henderson, filius legitimus Eduardi Plender- 
son— (Alexander Guthrie's Protocol Book, February 
1576-77). 



liv APPENDIX. 

Jonet Duche, spouse of umqiibill Alexander Henry- 
son, in Myreside, in the parish of Leuchars. She died 
27th Febraaiy 1579-80. Her children, Margaret, James, 
and Christian Heniyson — (Edinburgh Commissariat 
Register). 

James Henrison held the prebend of Brodirstanis, 
attached to Trinity College, Edinburgh, in July 1574. 
He became Master of the Hospital in December 1581, 
till May 1584, or the time of his death in 1585 — (Regist. 
Eccles. CoUeg., pp. 132, 236, 241). 

Alexander Henrysox, in Cuplayhill, in the parish 
of Lucheris in Fyfe, died 14th January 1585-6 — 
(Edinburgh Commissariat Register). 

Gilbert Henrysone, clerk and reidar at St Cuth- 
bert's Kirk, beside Edinburgh, — died 7th February 
1589-90— (Edinburgh Commissariat Register). 

Patrick Henrysoun, in Murehons, parish of Car- 
riden, died in Apiil 1590 — (Edinburgh Commissariat 
Register). 

John Hendersone, Writer to our Soverane Lordis 
Signet, and indwellar in Edinburgh, died 9th September 
1591 — (Edinburgh Commissariat Register). 

Robert Henryson, portioner of Arlarie, in the parish 
of Urwell, died in January 1597-8 — (Edinburgh Com- 
missariat Register). 

Alexander Henderson, portioner of Drone, in the 
parish of Leucharis, died 2d May 1599, — Robert 
Henderson, his lawful son — (Edinburgh Commissariat 
Register). 



John Henrysoun, Master of the Grammar Scheie, 
Dunfermline. The following is an extract from the 
Privy Council Records of the Memorial or Complaint 
mentioned at page xvi. : — 



APPENDIX. Iv 

JOHNE HeNRYSOUN OF DuNFERMLINE, — B. OF SaNCT- 
ANDROS. 

Apud Halyrudehous, 13th October 1573. 

Anent our Soiierane Lordis letters raisit at the instance 
of Johne Henrysoun Mr of the Grarnmer Schole within 
the Abbay of Dmifermling Makand meutioun That quhair 
he and his predecessouris hes continewit maisteris and 
teichearis of the j'outh in letters and doctrine to thair 
grit commoditie within the said Schole past memor of 
man admittit thairto be the Abbottis of Dunfermling for 
the tyme as havand the vndoubtit richt and privilege to 
that effect be virtew of thefoundatioun of the said Abbay 
Like as he is willing to continew and tak pains to the 
instructioun and leirning of the youth to the vttermaist 
of his power Notwithstanding David Fergusoun minister 
of Dunfermling allegeing him to have command of 
Maister Johne Dowglas Ai-chbischope of Saintandros hes 
charget the said Johne Hendersoun to abstene fra all 
forder teicheing within the said Schole in tyme cumin g 
vnder the pane of prononnceing of the sentence of 
excommunicatioun aganis him intending gif he do in the 
contrair to proceid to the said sentence wranguslie 
considering it is of veritie That he and his predecessouris 
hes continuit Maisteris of the said Scole in tymes past 
without interruptioun admittit thairto, as said is, of the 
said Abbot, sua that gif ony sic charge suld have bene 
maid the same suld have bene extendit towardis him 
and the said Abbot admonest and warnit to haue pro- 
vidit sum vther persoun in the same place in cais the 
present possessour had not bene qualifyt to vse the 
charge or vtherwyis of evill conversatioun or lyfe Bot 
trew it is that not only hes the said Johnne Henrysoun 
gevin confessioun of his faith and professioun of the trew 
Kirk bot alsua hes behavit himself honestlie in conversa-^ 



Ivi APPENDIX. 

tioun and lyif never tecbeing or vtlierwyis moving ony 
thing to the sklander of the Evangell Lykeas he is con- 
tent to submitt him to the judgement of sic as hes vnder- 
stand and leiniit of his doctrine or ony vtheris honest 
and famous person is and in cais ony offence had bene 
ministrat be him worthy deprivatioun of the said charge 
(as their is nane) yit be the lawis and practique of this 
realme can not nor aucht not ony sic chargeis or sentence 
be led aganis liim the actioun being raeir civile and pro- 
phane and thairfor the said bischope and minister ar na 
judgeis competent thereto And na law yit establishit or 
approvit that gevis thame sic power Bot the samyn sen- 
tence being only ordanit to be pronuncit vpoun sic as had 
not nor wald not acknawlege the trew Kirk quhilk on na 
wyis can be imputt to the said Johne Hendersoun ffor 
vtherwyis the said sentence of excommunication suld be 
extendit to all vther maner of actionis of quhatsumeuer 
qualitie thay wer and be that way the ministeris of the 
kirk suld mak thame selffs judgeis in all causs vuther be 
direct or indirect means quhilk wer ane giit absurditie 
and thairfore the saidis chargeis gevin to the said Johne 
to the effect foirsaid with all that has foUowit or may 
follow thairvpoun aucht and suld be suspendit simpliciter 
and to have na forder strenth in tyme cuming And 
anent the charge gevin to the saidis Archbischope and 
David Fergusoun minister to compeir befoir my Lord 
Kegentis grace and lordis of Secreit Couusall at ane 
certaine day by-past to heir and se thame dischergeit of 
all forder pronuncing or vsing of the said sentence aganis 
the said Johne or impediment making to him in vsing 
of the said charge in tyme cuming or ellis to schaw ane 
ressonable cans quhy the samyn suld not be done with 
certificatioun to thame and than- failze my Lord Regentis 
Grace wald discharge in maner aboue writtin likeas at 
mair leuth is contenit in the saidis letters execution and 



APPENDIX. Ivii 

indorsatioun thairoff: Quhilks being callit at suiidrie 
dietts the said Johue Hendersoun comperand personalie 
and the saidis Archbischope and David Fergusoun 
minister [oftymes callit] ^ naither be thame selflfis nor 
na vtheris in thair names not comperand my Lord 
Rogentis gi-ace with auise of the Lordis of Secreit Counsall 
ffyndis that na sic forme or ordour of sentence of excom- 
munication suld be gevin or pronimcit agauis the said 
Johne in maner foii'said And thairfore dischargeis the 
said Archbischope and minister of all proceeding or vsing 
of the said sentence vpon the said Johnne in maner 
aboue mentionat in tyme cuming and of thair offices in 
that part without prejudice alwayis to thame to persew 
him vtherwyis for removing fra the said charge or zit to 
him to defend conform to this lawis and practique of 
this realme. 

This John Henrisoun is no doubt to be identified with 
the keeper of the charters, and notary public, in the 
Abbey of Dunfermline, who commences the Rental Book 
of the charters and leases granted by the successive 
Abbots or Coramendators of Dunfermline, in the year 
1555 (and continued to the year 1583), with the follow- 
ing inscription : — " Novum Rentale seu registrum ter- 
rarum ad Regalitatem de Dunfermling spectantium anno 
millesimo quingentesimo quinquagesimo quinto per domi- 
num Joannem [....] monachum professum ejusdem 
de mandato Reverendi [viri] Georgii Dmie common - 
datarii [dicti] monasterii. I. Henrisone chartarius, 
notarius publicus " — (Registrum de Dunfermelyn. 
Edinb. 1842, 4to ; preface, p. xxiv. See also Chal- 
mers's Dunfermline, vol. i. p. 76). 



* These words apparently deleted in MS. 



Ivill APPENDIX. 

I have still to notice another branch of the Henrysons 
in Edinburgh, belonging to the legal profession, who 
rose to distinction during the latter half of the sixteenth 
century. In one work, Dr Edward Henryson is con- 
jectured to have been a grandson of the Poet, but no 
authority is given to confirm this supposition.^ He was 
born about the year 1520, but nothing is known regard- 
ing his parentage or place of birth. He studied law at 
the University of Bourges in France. Here he was sup- 
ported by the munificence of UMck Fuggerus, a dis- 
tinguished patron of literature, to whom he dedicated 
his volume in defence of his master Eguinaird Baron, 
one of the professors, against Ant. Goveanus, de Juris- 
dictione, Paris, 1555. Henryson, having proceeded 
doctor of both faculties, continued for some time 
at Bourges, and gave lectures on civil law.^ On his 
return to Scotland, he passed Advocate before Feb- 
ruary 1557 ; and on the institution of the Commissariat 
Court by Mary Queen of Scots, 8th of Februaiy 1564, 
Henryson was nominated one of the four Commissaries 
of Edinburgh.^ He was also entrusted with the publica- 
tion of the Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, which 
appeared in October and November 1566. 

Dr Henryson continued to officiate as one of the Com- 
missaries of Edinburgh until his death, which took 
place at Cragyhall, near Edinburgh, on the penult of 
September 1585.* His wife, Helen Swyntoun, died in 
1580.5 

Mr Thomas Henryson, their surviving sou, who 

1 Swan's Fife Illustrated, vol. iii, p. 229, 

* For a more minute account of his life, see M'Crie's Life of Mel- 
ville, Edinburgh Christian Instructor, Sept. 1834, p. 585; Tytler's 
Life of Sir Thomas Craig ; Senators of the College of Justice, p. 132. 

' Regist. Secreti SigUli, vol. xxxii. fol. 79. 

■* Edinburgh Commissariat Register. ' Ih. 



APPENDIX. lix 

passed as Advocate, was afterwards appointed one of the 
Commissaries of Edinburgh in 1597. Another of the 
Commissaries was his brother-in-law, IVIi- John Nicolson 
of Dryden, who had married Elizabeth Henryson in 1584. 
In June 1622 Henryson was knighted, and raised to the 
Bench, by the title of Lord Chesters. The inscription 
on the handsome monument on the west wall of the 
Greyfriars Church-yard, Edinburgh, erected by him in 
1636, embraces a whole family history in its enumera- 
tion. •• But Sir Thomas Henryson of Chesters did not 
long survive the erection of this affectionate memorial to 
his parents and relatives, having died on the 3d of Feb- 
ruary 1638.2 

I shall conclude these notices with mentioning that a 
claimant to be the lineal representative of Robert Henry- 
son the Poet, was Captain John Henryson of the 
Engineers. In one or two letters, written from Naples 
so long since as 1826, he communicated some interest- 
ing information on the subject of his claim ; but, being 
written abroad, without access to any of his papers, 
they are too vague and unsatisfactory for publication. 
But the following extract may be given out of respect 
to the memory of a person who felt no small pride in the 
belief of such a descent :— 

" There is reason (he says) to believe that Henderson 
is a corruption from Henryson^ but this last name has 
been always preserved in our line. The Henrysons 
remained in obscurity for a long period, but afterwards 
rose to some eminence in Edinburgh (see monument in 
the Greyfriars Churchyard) ; afterwards they purchased 



* Monteith's Theater of Mortality, 1704, p. 33-36 ; Maitland's History 
of Edinburgh, p. 198. 

* Senators of the College of Justice, p 245. 



Ix APPENDIX. 

land at a place called Totherick or Toderick on the 
Tweed ; from whence they emigrated to the lands of 
Kirkton Hill, near Channel Kirk, on the Lauder road 
from Edinburgh. There the names of several genera- 
tions are written in the parish books. The family was 
numerous for some time, and the lands were sold, piece 
by piece, till my grandfather, Dr John Henryson, sold 
the last (after 'the '45'), and took refuge among the 
Jacobites in Devonshire, where he practised as a 
physician, protected and patronised chiefly by the worthy 

family of ' Gary of Tor Abbey.' He left an 

only son William, a captain in the navy afterwards, who 

was my father I believe I am now the only 

person of the name in the world." 

Anne, Mrs Henryson, late of Mount Radford, Exeter, 
and relict of Captain John Henryson, Royal Engineers, 
died at Edinburgh, 15th March 1846. Captain Henry- 
son himself died, I think, at Naples, in 1832 or 1833. 
He was not aware of the memorial of John Henryson, 
schoolmaster of Dunfermline in 1573 (supra, p. Iv.), 
which seems to strengthen the family traditions : but it 
still remains to be proved whether any relationship sub- 
sisted between the said Schoolmaster and the Poet. 



MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 



A 



« 



( 



I 



ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 



ROBENE fat on gud grene hill, 

Kepand a flok of fe: 
Mirry Makyne faid him till, 

" Robene, thow rew on me ; 
I haif thee luvit lowd and ftill, 

Thir yeiris two or thre ; 
My dule in dern bot gif thow dill, 

Doutlefs but dreid I de." 

Robene anfwerit, *' Be the Rude, 

Na thing of lufe I knaw, 10 

Bot keipis my fcheip undir yone wude, 

Lo ! quhair thay raik on raw : 
Quhat hes marrit thee in thy mude, 

Makyne to me thow fchaw? 
Or quhat is lufe, or to be lude, 

Fane wald I leir that law." 

" At luvis lair gife thow will leir, 

Tak thair ane A, B, C ; 
Be heynd, courtafs, and fair of feir, 

Wyfe, hardy, and fre : 20 



IIOBENE AND MAKYNE. 

So that no denger do thee deir, 

Quhat dule in dern thow dre; 
Preifs thee with pane at all poweir, 

Be pacient, and pre vie." 

Robene anfwerit hir agane, 

" I wait noeht quhat is lufe ; 
Bot I haif mervell incertaine, 

Quhat makis thee this wanrufe : 
The weddir is fair, and I am fane, 

My fcheip gois haill aboif, 30 

And we wald play us in this plane, 

Thay wald us bayth reproif." 

" Robene, tak tent unto my taill, 

And wirk all as I reid, 
And thow fall haif my hairt all haill, 

Eik and my maidinheid. 
Sen God fendis bute for baill. 

And for murnyng remeid; 
In dern with thee, bot gif I daill, 

Dowtles I am bot deid." 40 

" Makyne, to morne this ilka tyde, 

And ye will meit me heir, 
Peraventure my fcheip ma gang befyd, 

Quhill we haif liggit fuU neir ; 
Bot mawgre haif I and I byd, 

Fra thay begin to Heir; 
Quhat lyis on hairt I will nocht hyd ; 

Makyne than mak gud cheir." 



ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 



" Robene, tliou reivis me roiff and reft, 

I luve bot thee allone." 50 

" Makyne, adew ! the fone gois weft, 

The day is neir hand gone." 
" Robene, in dule I am fo dreft. 

That lufe wilbe my bone." 
" Ga lufe, Makyne, quhair evir thow lift, 

For leraman I luve none." 

" Robene, I ftand in fie a flyll 

I ficht, and that full fair/' 
" Makyne, I haif bene heir tliis quhyle, 

At hame God gif I wair." 60 

" My huny, Robene, talk ane quhyll, 

Gif thow will do na mair." 
" Makyne, fum uthir man begyle, 

For hamewart I will fair/' 

Robene on his way is went, 

A Is lieht as leif of tre; 
Mawkyn mumit in hir intent. 

And trowd him nevir to fe. 
Robene brayd attoiir the bent; 

Than Makyne cryit on hie, 70 

" Now ma thow fing, for I am fchent, 

Quhat alis lufe at me?" 

Mawkyne went hame withowttin faill 

Full wery eftir cowth weip : 
Than Robene in a ful fair daill 

Affemblit all his fcheip. 



ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 



Be that fum parte of Mawkynis aill 

Out-tlirow his hairt cowd creip; 
He fallowit hir fall thair till affaill, 

And till hir tuke gude keep. 80 

" Abyd, abyd, thow fair Makyne, 

A word for ony thing ; 
For all my luve it falbe thyne, 

Withowttin departing. 
All haill! thy harte for till haif myne, 

Is all my cuvating; 
My fcheip to morne, quhill houris nyne, 

Will neid of no keping." 

'* Robene, thow hes hard foiing and fay, 

In geflis and floreis auld, 90 

* The man that will nocht quhen he may, 

Sail haif nocht quhen he wald.* 
I pray to Jefu, every day 

Mot eik thair cairis cauld. 
That firft preiffis with thee to play. 

Be firth, forrefl, or fauld." 

" Makyne, the nicht is foft and dry, 

The weddir is war me and fair. 
And the grene woid rycht neir us by 

To walk attour all quhair: 100 

Thair ma na janglour us efpy. 

That is to lufe contrair; 
Thairin, Makyne, bath ye and I, 

Unfene we ma repair." 



I 



ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 7 

" Kobeue, that warld is all away, 

And quyt brocht till ane end, 
And nevir agane thairto perfay. 

Sail it be as thow wend : 
For of my pane thow maid it play, 

And all in vane I fpend : 110 

As thow hes done, fa fall I fay, 

Murne on, I think to mend." 

" Makyne, the howp of all my heill, 

My hairt on thee is fett, 
And evir mair to thee be leill, 

Qiihill I may leif but lett ; 
Nevir to faill, as utheris feill, 

Quhat grace that evir I gett." 
" Robene, with thee I will nocht deill ; 

Adew ! for thus we raett/' 120 

Makyne went hame blyth anneuche, 

Attour the holttis hair; 
Eobene murnit, and Makyne leuche ; 

Seho fang, he iiehit fair : 
And fo left hhn, bayth wo and wreuch, 

In dolour and in cair, 
Kepand his bird under a huehe, 

Amansris the holtis hair. 



THE GARMOND OF aUDE LABEIS. 



Wald my gud Lady lufe me befl, 

And wirk eftir my wdll, 
I fuld ane Garmond gudliefl 

Gar mak hir body till. 

Off he honour fuld be hir hud, 

Upoun hir heid to weir, 
Garneift with governance fo gud, 

Na demyng fuld hir deir. 

Hir fark fuld be hir body nixt, 

Of cheftetie fo quhyt, 10 

With fchame and dreid togidder mixt, 

The fame fuld be perfyt. 

Hir kirtill fuld be of clone conftance, 

Lafit with lefum lufe, 
The mailyheis of continuance 

For nevir to remufe. 

Hir gown fuld be of gudlinefs, 
Weill ribband with renowne, 



I 



THE GARMOND OF GUDE LADEIS. 



Purfillit with plefour in ilk place, 

Furrit with fyne faffoun. 20 

Hir belt fuld be of benignitie, 

About hir middill meit ; 
Hir mantill of hurailitie, 

To thoU bayth wind and weit. 

Hir hat fuld be of fair having, 

And hir tepat of trewth, 
Hir patelet of gude panfing, 

Hir hals ribbane of rewth. 

Hir flevis fuld be of efperance, 

To keip hir fra difpair ; 30 

Hir gluvis of the gud govirnanee, 

To hyd hir fyngearis fair. 

Hir fchone fuld be of lickernes, 

In fyne that fcho nocht flyd; 
Hir hoifs of honeflie, I ges, 

I fuld for hir provyd. 

Wald fcho put on this Garmond gay, 

I durft fweir by my feill, 
That fcho woir ne\4r grene nor gray 

That fet hir half fo weill. ' 40 



THE BLUDY SEEK 



This hindir yeir I hard be tald, 

Thair was a worthy King ; 
Dukis, Erlis, and Barronis bald, 

He had at his bidding. 
The Lord was anceane, and aid, 

And fexty yeiris cowth ring; 
He had a Dochter, fair to fald, 

A lully lady }^ng. 

Off all fairheid fcho bur the flour ; 

And eik hir faderis air; 10 

Off lufly laitis, and he honour ; 

Meik, bot and debonair. 
Scho wynnit in a bigly bour, 

On fold wes none fo fair; 
Princis luvit hir paramour, 

In cuntreis our all quhair. 

Thair dwelt a lyt befyde the King 

A fowll Gryane of ane; 
Stollin he hes the Lady ying, 

Away with hir is gane; 20 



THE BLUDY SERK. 11 



And kefl hir in liis dungering, 
Quhair licht fcho micht fe nane : 

Himgir and cauld, and grit thrilling, 
Scho fand in to liir waine. 



He wes the laithlieft on to luk 

That on the grund myeht gang : 
His naihs wes lyk ane hellis cruk, 

Thairwith fyve quarteris lang. 
Thair wes nane that he our-tuk, 

In ryeht or yit in wrang, 30 

Bot all in fchondir he thame fchuke ; 

The Gryane wes fo ftrang. 

He held the Lady day and nycht, 

Within his deip dimgeoun ; 
He wald nocht gif of hir a iieht 

For gold nor yit ranfoun, 
Bot gife the King mycht get a Knycht, 

To fecht with his perfoim, 
To fecht with him, both day and nycht, 

Quhill ane wer dungin doun. 40 

The King gart feik baith fer and neir, 

Beth be fe and land, 
Oft' ony Knycht gife he micht heir, 

Wald fecht with that Gyand. 
A worthy Prince, that had no peir, 

Hes tane the deid on hand, 
For the luve of the Lady cleir ; 

And held full trew ciinnand. 



12 



THE BLUDY SEEK. 



That Prince come prowdlj to the toun, 

Of that Gryane to heir ; 50 

And fawcht with him, his awin perfoun, 

And tuke him prefoneir ; 
And kefl him in his awin dimgeoun, 

Allane withouttin feir, 
With hungir, cauld, and confufioun, 

As full Weill worthy weir. 

Syne brak the hour, had hame the bricht, 

Unto hir Fadir deir. 
Sa evill wondit was the Knycht, 

That he behnvit to de. 60 

Unlufum was his likame dicht, 

His fark was all bludy; 
In all the warld was thair a wicht 

So peteoufs for to fel 

The Lady murnyt, and maid grit mone, 

With all hir mekle micht: 
*' I luvit nevir lufe, bot one, 

That dulfully now is dicht! 
God fen my lyfe wer fra me tone, 

Or I had fene yone ficht; 70 

Or ellis in begging evir to gone 

Furth with yone curtafs Knycht." 

He faid, " Fair Lady now mone I 

De, treftly ye me trow: 
Tak ye my fork that is bludy. 

And hino it forrow vow. 



THE BLUDY SERK. 13 



Fiifl tliink on it, and fyne on me, 

Quhen men cumis yow to wow." 
The lady faid, " Be Mary fre, 

Thairto I mak a vow." 80 

Quhen that fcho lukit to the ferk, 

Scho thocht on the perfoun : 
And prayit for him with all hir harte, 

That lowfd hir of bandoun : 
Quhair fcho was wont to fit full merk 

In that deip dungeoun: 
And evir quhill fcho wes in quert, 

That wafs hir a loffoun. 

So Weill the Lady luvit the Knycht, 

That no man wald fcho tak. 90 

Sa fuld we do our God of micht 

That did all for us mak; 
Quhilk fuUely to deid wes dicht, 

For finfull manis faik. 
Sa fuld we do, both day and nycht, 

With prayaris to him mak. 



MOKALITAS. 

This King is lyk the Trinitie 

Baith in hevin and heir. 
The Manis faule to the Lady : 

The Gyane to Lucefeir. 100 



14 THE BLUDY SERK. 



Tlie Knycht to Chryft, that deit on tre, 

And coft our fynnis deir : 
The pit to hell, with panis fell; 

The fyn to the woweir. 

The Lady was wowd, but feho faid Nay, 

With men that wald hir wed ; 
Sa fuld we wryth all fyn away, 

That in our breifl is bred. 
I pray to Jefu Chryft verrey 

For us his blud that bled, 110 

To be our help on Domyfday, 

Quhair lawis ar ftraitly led. 

The faule is Godis dochtir deir, 

And eik his handewerk. 
That was betraiit with Lueifeir, 

Quha fittis in hell, full merk. 
Borrowit with Chryflis angell cleir, 

Hend men! will ye noeht herk? 
For his lufe that bocht us deir, 

Think on the Bludy Serk! 120 



I 



THE ABBAY WALK 



Allone as I went up and doun 

In ane Abbay was fair to fe, 
Thinkand quhat confolatioun 

Was beft in to adverfitie ; 

On caifs I keft on fyd myne e, 
And faw this written upoun a wall, 

Off quhat eftait, Man, that thow be, 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 

Thy kindome and thy grit empyre. 

Thy ryaltie, nor riche array, 10 

Sail nocht endeur at thy defyre, 

Bot, as the wind, will wend away ; 

Thy gold, and all thy gudis gay, 
Quhen fortoun lift will fra thee fall: 

Sen thou lie fampillis feis ilk day. 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 

Job was moift riche, in Writ we find, 

Thobe moift full of cheritie ; 
Job woux pure, and Thobe blynd, 

Baith tempit with adverfitie. 20 



16 THE ABBAY WALK. 



Sen blindnes wes infirmitie, 
And poverty wes natural! ; 

Thairfoir rycht patiently bath he and he 
Obeyit, and thankit God of all. 



Thocht thow be blind, or half ane halt, M 

Or in thy face deformit ill, 
Sa it cum nocht throw thy defalt, 

Na man fuld thee repreif by fkill. 

Blame nocht thy Lord, fa is his will ; 
Spurn nocht thy fute aganis the wall; 30 

Bot with meik hairt, and prayer still. 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 



God of his juftice mon correct, 

And of his mercie petie half; 
He is ane Juge, to nane fufpect. 

To puneifs fynfull man and faif. 

Thocht thow be lord attour the laif, 
And eftirwart maid bound and thrall, 

Ane pure begger, with fkrip and ftaiff, 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 40 

This changeing, and grit variance. 

Off erdly flaitis up and doun. 
Is nocht bot cafualitie and chance, 

As fum men fay is, without reffoun, 

Bot be the grit provilioun 
Of God aboif that rewll thee fall ; 

Thairfoir evir thow mak thee bouu, 
To obey, and thank thy God of all. 



I 



THE ABB AY WALK. 17 



111 welth be meik, heich not thy felf; 

Be glaid in wilful! povertie; 50 

Thy power, and thy warldis pelf, 

Is nocht bot verry vanitie. 

Remembir him that deit on tree, 
For thy faik taistit the bittir gall; 

Quha heis law hairtis, and lawis he, 
Obey, and thank thy God of all. 



AGANIS HAISTY CREDDENCE 
OF TITLARIS. 



Fals titlaris now growis up fall rank, 
Nocht ympit in the flok of cheretie, 

Howping at thair lord to gett grit thank; 

Thay haif no dreid on thair nychtbouris to lie : 
Than fowld ane Lord awyfe him weill I fe, 

Quhen ony taill is brocht to his prefence, 
Gif it be groundit in to veretie, 

Or he thairto gif haiftely creddence. 

Ane worthy lord fowld wey ane taill wyflie, 
The taill-tellar, and quhome of it is tald ; 10 

Gif it be faid for luve, or for invy, 

And gif the taillisman abyd at it he wald : 
Than eftirwart the parteis fowld be eald, 

For thair excufe to mak lawfuU defence ; 

Than fowld ane lord the ballance evinly hald, 

And gif not at the first haiflie creddence. 

It is no wirfchep for ane nobill lord, 

For the fals taillis to put ane trew man doun, 

And gevand creddence to the first recoird, 

He will not heir his excufatioun ; 20 



I 



AGANIS IIAISTY CREDDENCE OF TITLARIS. 19 



The tittillaris fo in his eir can roun, 
The innocent may get no awdience: 

Ryme as it may, thair is na reffoun, 
To gif till taillis haiflely creddence. 

Thir taill-tellaris oft tymes dois grit skaith, 

And raiffis mortall feid and difcrepance, 
And makis lordis with thair ferwandis wreith, 

And baneift be withowt cryme perchance. 

It is the grund of flryfe and all diflance, 
Moir perellus than ony peftillence, 30 

Ane lord in flatterreris to haif plefance, 
Or to gif lyaris haiflely creddence. 

thow wyfe lord! quhen cumis a flatterar 
Thee for to pleis, and hurt the innocent, 

Will tell ane taill of thy familiar; 

Thow fowld the parteis call incontinent. 
And fitt doun fadly in to jugement. 

And ferche the cans weill, or thow gif fentence, 
Or ellis heireftir, in cais thow may repent, 

That thow to taillis gaif fo grit creddence. 40 

wicket tung! fawand diffentioun, 

Of fals taillis to tell that will not tyre, 
Moir perellus than ony fell pufoun. 

The pane of hell thow fall haif to thy hyre. 

Richtfwa thay fall that hes joy or defyre, 
To gife his eir to heird with patience; 

For of difcord it kendillis mony fyre, 
Throucht geving taillis haiftely creddence. 



20 AGANIS HAISTY CREDDENCE OF TITLABIS. 



Bakbyttaris to heir it is no bourd, 

For tliay ar excommunicat in all place; 50 
Three perfonis feverall he flayis with ane wourd, 

Himfelf, the heirar, and the man faiklace. 

Within an hude he has ane dowbill face, 
Ane bludy tung, undir a fair pretence. 

I fay no moir; bot God grant lordis grace, 
To gife to taillis nocht haillely creddence. 



I 



THE PRAIS OF AIGE. 



In tyl ane garth, under ane reid rofeir, 

Ane auld Man, and decrepit, hard I fyng ; 
Gay wes the noit, fweit was the voce and cleyr; 

It wes grit joy to heir of fie ane thyng. 

And to my doume, he faid, in his dytyng, 
For to be young I wald nocht, for my wyfs 

Of all this warld to mak me lord and king : 
The moyr of aige the nerar hevynnis blifs. 

Fals is this warld, and full of varyance, 

Ourefet with fyt and uther fynnys mo; 10 
Now trewth is tynt, gyle hes the governance. 

And wrachitnefs hes turnyt al fra weill to wo ; 

Fredoume is tynt, and flemyt the Lordis fro, 
And cuvattyce is all the caufe of this: 

I am content that yowthheid is ago: 
The moyr of aige the nerar hevynnis blis. 

The flait of yowth I repute for na gude. 
For in that flait grit perrell now I fee; 

Can nane gane fland the rageing of his blude 
Na yit be flabil quhill that he aigit be : 20 



22 THE PRAIS OF AIGE. 



Than of the thing that maifl rejoyfit he, 
Na thing remaynis for to be callit his; 

For quhy? it wes bot verray vanite : 
The moyr of aige the nerar hevynnis blyfs. 

This wrechit warld may na man trow ; for quhy ? 

Of erdly joy ay forrow is the end; 
The gloyr of it can na man certify, 

This day a king, the morne na thing to fjDend ! 

Quhat haif we heyr bot grace us to defend! 
The quhilk God grant us till amend our myfs, 30 

That till his joy he may our faullis fend ; 
The moyr of aige the nerar hevynnis blifs. 



THE RESSONING BETWIXT 
AiaE AND YOWTH. 



YOWTH. 

QuHEN fair Flora, the goddefs of all flowris, 

Baith firth and feildis frefchely had ourfret, 
And perly droppis of the balmy fchowris, 

Thir woddis grene had with thair watter wet ; 

Mufand allone, in mornyng myld, I met 
A mirry man, that all of mirth cowth mene, 

Syngand this fang that richt fweitly wes fett, 
" yowth be glaid in to thy flowris grene!" 

AIGE. 

I lukit furth a litill me befoir, 

And faw a catyf on a club cumand, 10 

With cheikis leyne, and lyart lokis hoir: 

His ene was howe, his voce was hace hoUand, 

Wallowit and wan, and walk as ony wand ; 
Ane bill he beure upoun his breifl abone. 

In letteris leill but lefs, with this legyand, 
" yowth, thy flowris faidis ferly fone!" 

YOWTH. 

This yung man lap upoun the land full licht, 
And marvellit mekle of his makdome maid ; 



24 RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND YOWTH. 



" Waldyne I am, quod he, and woundir wicht. 
With brawne as bair, and breifl burly and braid, 20 
Na grome on ground my gairdone may degraid, 

Nor of my pith may pair Avirth half a prene ; 
My face is fair, my figour may nocht faid: 

yowth be glaid into thy flowris grene ! " 

AIGE. 

This feneour fang, bot with a fober flevyn, 
Schakand his herd, he faid, " My baime lat be ; 

1 was within thir fextie yeiris and fevyn, 
Ane freik on fold, als fair, frefch, als fre, 
Als glaid, als gay, als ying, als yhaip as ye : 

Bot now that day is our-drawyne and done ; 30 

Luke thow my laychly lycome gif I lie : 
O yowth thy flowris faidis ferly fone ! " 

YOWTH. 

This mirry man of mirth yit movit moir : 

" My corps is clene without corruptioun ; 
My felf is found, but feiknes or but foir; 

My wittis fyve in dew proportioun ; 

My curage is of clene complexioun : 
My hairt is haill, my levar, and my fplene, 

Thairfoir to reid this roll I haif reffoun : 
O yowth be glaid into thy flowris grene ! " 40 

AIGE. 

The bevar hoir faid to this berly heme, 

" This breif thow fall obey, fone be thow bald ; 
Thy ftait, thy flrenth, thocht it be ftark and fterne, 



I 



RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND YOWTH. 25 



The feveris fell, and eild fall gar thee fald ; 

Thy corps fall clyng, thy eurage fall wax eald, 
Thy helth fall hynk, and tak a hurt but hone, 

Thy wittis fyve fall vaneis, thoeht thow nocht 
wald: 
yowth thy flowris faidis ferly fone ! '* 

YOWTH. 

Ane uther vers this yung man yit cowth fing, 

" At luvis law I think a quhyle to leit, 50 
In court to cramp clenely in my clething. 

And luke amangis thir lully ladeis fweit; 

Of mariage to mell, with mowthis meit. 
In fecreitnes, quhair we may nocht be fene. 

And fo with birdis blythly my bailis beit: 
yowth be glaid in to thy flowris grene!" 

AIGE. 

This awflrene greif anfwerit angirly, 

" For thy cramping thow fait baith cruke and 
cowre ; 
Thy flefchely lufl thow fait aKo defy, 

And pane thee fall put fra [thy] paramour : 60 

Than will no bird be blyth of thee in boure ; 
Quhen thy manheid fall wendin as the mone, 

Thow fall affay gif that my fong be feur : 
O yowth, thy flowris faidis ferly fone ! " 

This gowand grathit with fie grit greif. 

He on his wayis wiethly went, but wene; 
This lene auld man luthe not, but tuk his leif. 



26 RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND YOWTH. 



And I abaid under the levis grene : 

Of the fedullis the futhe quhen I had fene, 

Of trewth, methoeht, thay triumphit in thair 

tone : 70 

" yowth, be glaid into thy flowris grene ! " 

" O yowth, thy flowris faidis ferly fone!" 



THE RESSONING BETWIXT 
DETH AND MAN. 



Deth. 
" MORTALL Man ! behold, tak tent to me, 

Quhilk fall thy mirrour be baith day and nicht ; 
All erdly thing that evir tuik lyfe mon die, 

Paip, empriour, king, barroun, and knycht, 

Thocht thay be in thair ryell ftait and hicht. 
May not ganefland, quhen I pleifs fchute the derte ; 

Wal-townis, caftellis, and towris nevir fo wicht, 
May nocht refill quhill it be at his hert." 

The Man. 
" Now quhat art thow, that biddis me thus tak 
tent, 

And mak ane mirror day and nicht of thee ? 10 
Or with thy dert I fowld rieht fou* repent? 

I trell trewly off that thow fall fone lie. 

Quhat freik on fold fa bald dar manifs me. 
Or with me fecht, owthir on fute or horfs? 

Is non fo wicht or flark in this cuntre, 
Bot I fall gar him bow to me on forfs." 

Deth. 
" My name, forfuth, [to fay] fen that thow fpeiris. 



28 RESSONING BETWIXT DETH AND MAN. 



Thay call me Deth, futhly I thee declair, 
Calland all man and woman to thair beiris, 

Quhen evir I pleifs, quhat tyme, quhat place, or 
quhair : 20 

Is nane fa flowt, fa frefche, nor yit fa fair, 
Sa yung, fa aid, fa riche, nor yit fa peur, 

Quhair evir I pafs, owthir kit or air, 
Mon put thame haill on forfs undir my cure." 

Man. 

" Sen it is fua, that nature can fo wirk, 

That yung and awld, with riche and peure, mon 
die; 

In my yowtheid, allace! I wes full irk, 

Cowld not tak tent to gyd and governe me 
Ay gude to do, fra evill deidis to fle, 

Trefland ay yowthheid wold with me abyde ; 30 
Fulfilland evir my fenfualitie 

In deidly fyn, and fpecialy in pryd." 

Deth. 
" Thairfoir repent, and remord thy confcience ; 

Think on thir wordis I now upoun thee cry: 
O wrechit man ! O full of ignorance ! 

All thy plefance thow fall richt deir aby ; 

Difpone thy felf, and cum with me in hy, 
Edderis, afkis, and wormis meit for to be ; 

Cum quhen I call, thow ma me nocht deny, 
Thocht thow war paip, empriour, and king all 

thre." 40 



RESSONING BETWIXT DETH AND MAN. 



Man. 

" Sen it is fwa fra thee I may not chaip, 

This wrechit warld for me heir I defy, 
And to the deid, to lurk vnder thy caip, 

I offer me with hairt richt humily; 

Befeiking God, the divill, myne enemy. 
No power haif my faule till affay : 

Jefus on thee, with peteous voce, I cry, 
Mercy on me to haif on domifday." 



THE THREE DEID POWIS. 



O siNFULL Man! into this mortall fee 

Quhilk is the vaill of murnyng and of cair ; 
With gaiftly fight, behold oure heidis three, 

Oure holkit eine, oure peilit powis bair. 

As ye ar now, into this warld we wair, 
Als frefche, als fair, als lufly to behald; 

Quhan thow lukis on this futh exemplair, 
Off thyfelf, Man, thou may be rieht unbald. 

For futh it is, that every man mortall 

Mon fuffer deid, and de, that lyfe has tane ; 10 

Na erdly flait aganis deid ma prevaill; 
The hour of deth and place is uncertane, 
Quhilk is referrit to the hie God allane : 

Herefoir haif mynd of deth, that thow mon dy ; 
This fair exampill to fe quotidiane, 

Sowld caufe all men fro wicket vjch flie? 

O wantone yowth! als frefche as lufly May, 
Farefl of flowris, renewit quhyt and reid, 

Behald our heidis, O lufly gallandis gay! 

Full laithly thus faU ly thy lufly heid, 20 



THE THREE DEID POWIS. 31 



Holkit and how, and wallowit as the weid, 
Thy crampland hair, and eik thy crillall ene; 

Full cairfully conclud fall dulefuU deid. 
Thy example heir be us it may be fene. 

O ladeis quhyt! in claithis corrufcant, 

Poleift with perle, and mony pretius ftane; 
With palpis quhyt, and hals elegant, 

Sirculit with gold, and fapheris mony ane ; 

Your fingearis fmall, quhyt as quhailis bane, 
Arrayit with ringis, and mony rubeis reid ; 30 

As we ly thus, fo fall ye ly ilk ane, 
With peilit powis, and holkit thus your heid. 

O wofull pryd ! the rute of all diflrefs. 

With humill hairt upoim our powis pens : 
Man, for thy mifs, afk mercy with meiknefs; 

Aganis Deid na man may mak defens. 

The Empriour, for all his exeellens. 
King and Quene, and eik all erdly flait, 

Peure and riche, fall be but differens, 
Turnit in as, and thus in erd tranflait. 40 

This queflioun quha can obfolve lat fee, 

Quhat phifnamour, or perfyt palmefler, 
Quha was farefl, or fowlefl of us three? 

Or quhilk of us of kin was gentillar? 

Or maift excellent in fcience or in lare. 
In art, mufic, or in aflronomye? 

Heir[in] fould be your lludy and repair, 
And think, as thus, all our heidis mon be. 



32 THE THREE DEID POWIS. 



O febill aige! drawand neir the dait 

Of duly deid, and hes thy dayis compleit, 50 
Behald our heidis with murning and regrait; 

Fall on thy kneis, afk grace at God greit, 

With orifonis, and haly pfalmis fweit, 
Befeikand him on thee to haif mercy, 

Now of our fawlis bydand the decreit 
Of his Grodheid, quhen he fall call and cry. 

A Is we exhort, that every man mortall. 
For his faik that maid of nocht all thing, 

For our fawlis to pray in generall, 

To Jefu Chryfl, of hevyn and erd the King ; 60 
That throuch his blude we may ay leif and ring, 

With the Hie Fader, be eternitie, 

The Sone alfwa, the Haly Gaill conding, 

Three knit in Ane be perfyt Unitie. 



I 



THE SALUTATION OF THE VIRGIN. 



FoRCY as deith is likand lufe, 

Throuch quhom al bittir fuet is, 
No thing is hard, as Writ can pruf, 

Till him in lufe that letis ; 

Luf us fra barret betis ; 
Quhen fra the hevinly fete abufe, 
In message Grabriell couth muf, 

And with mild Mary metis, 

And faid, " God wele thee gretis ; 
In thee He will tak rest and rufe, 10 

But hurt of fyn, or yit reprufe : 

In Him fett thi decretis." 

This meffage mervale gert that Myld, 

And lilence held but foundis, 
As Weill aferit, a maid infild. 

The Angell it expoundis. 

How that hir wame but wound is 
Confave it fuld, fra fyn exild ; 
And quhen this carpin wes compild 

Brichtnes fra bufe aboundis : 20 

Than fell that gay to groundis, 
c 



34 THE SALUTATION OF THE VIRGIN. 



Of Goddis grace na thing begild, 
Wox in liir chaumer chaift with child, 
With Chrift our kyng that cround is. 

Thir tithingis tauld, the meffinger 

Till hevin agane he glidis ; 
That princes pure, withoutyn peir, 

Full plefandly applidis, 

And blith with barne abidis. 
O w^orthy wirfchip finguler ! 30 

To be moder and madyn meir, 

As Christin faith confidis; 

That borne was of hir fidis, 
Our maker Goddis Son fo deir, 
Quhilk erd, wattir, and he\innis cler, 

Throw grace and virtu gidis. 

The miraclis ar mekle and meit, 

Fra luffis ryver rynnis, 
The low of luf haldand the hete, 

Unbrynt full blithlie birnis : 40 

Quhen Gabriell beginnis, 
With mouth that gudely May to grete, 
The wand of Aaron, dry but wete, 

To burjioun nocht blynnis, 

The flefch all donk within is 
Upon the erd, na drop couth fleit ; 
Sa was that May maid moder fuete, 

And fakelefs of all fynnis. 

Hir mervallus liaill madinhede 



THE SALUTATION OF THE VIRGIN. 35 



God ill hir bofum bracis, 50 

And hir divinite fra dreid 

Hir kepit in all caiis. 

The Hie God of his gracis. 
Him felf difpifit us to fpeid, 
And dowtit nocht to dee on deid : 

He panit for our peacis, 

And with his blude us bacis ; 
Bot quhen he ras up, as we rede, 
The cherite of his Godhede 

Was plane in every placis. 60 

O Lady lele, and lufumeft, 

Thy face moifl fair and fchene is! 
blofum blith and bowfumefl, 

Fra carnale cryme that clene is ! 

This prayer fra my fplene is, 
That all ray werkis wikkitefl 
Thow put away, and mak me chaift 

Fra Termigant that teyn is. 

And fra his cluke that kene is ; 
And fyn till hevin, my faule thou haift, 70 

Quhar thi Maker of michtis maift 

Is Kyng, and thow thair Quene is. 



THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 



Me ferlyis of this grete confufioun, 

I wald funi clerk of connyng walde declerde, 
Qubat gerris this warld be turnyt up fo doun ! 

Thare is na faithfull faflnes founde in erd; 

Now ar noucht thre may traiftly trow the ferde ; 
Welth is away, and wit is worthin in wrynkis : 

No fele is fouer now, this is a wofull werde. 
Sen want of wyfe men makis fuhs fitt on binkis. 

That tyme quhen levit the king Saturnus, 

For gudely gouvernance this warld was Goldiu 
cald ; 10 

For untreutli we wate noucht quhare to it turnis ; 
The tyme that Octoviane the monarch could hald, 
Our all was peax, wele fet as hertis wald : 

Than regnyt reule, and refone held his rynkis ; 
Now lakkis prudence, nobilitee is thralde, 

Sen want of wyfe men makis fulis fitt on bynkis. 

Areflotill for his moralitee, 

Auftyn, or Ambrofe for thair dyvine feripture ; 
Quha can Placebo, and noucht half Dirige, 

That practik for to pike, and pill the pure, 20 



THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 37 



He fall cum in, and thay lland at the dure. 
For warldly wonyng fik walkis, quhen wyfar wynkis : 

Wit takis na worfehip, fik is tlie aventure, 
Sen want of wyfe men makis fulis fitt on binkis. 

Weir, but defenfe, rycht lyis all defolate, 

Ryeht and refone under na rufe has reft ; 
Youth is but raddour, and age is obflynate, 

Mycht but mercy, the pore ar all oppreft. 

Lerit folk fuld tech the peple of the befl, 
Thouch lare be lytill, fer leffe in tham finkis : 30 

It may noucht be this warld ay thus fuld left, 
That want of wyfe men makis fulis fitt on binkis. 

For now is exilde all aid noble corage, 

Lautee, lufe, and liberalitee : 
Now is fl;abilitee fundyn in na flage, 

Nor degefl counfele wyth fad maturitee. 

Peax is away, all in perplexitee ; 
Prudence, and policy, ar banyfl our al brinkis. 

This warld is ver, fa may it callit be. 
That want of wyfe men makis fulis fitt on bynkis. 40 

Quhare is the balance of juftice and equitee ? 

Nothir meryt is preifit, na punyft; is trefpas! 
All ledis now lyvis lawles at libertee, 

Noucht reulit be refon, mair than ox, or afle : 

Gude faith is flemyt, worthin fraillar than glas ; 
Trew lufe is lorne, and lautee haldis no lynkis; 

Sik gouvernance I call noucht worth a faffe, 
Sen want of wyfe men makis fulis fitt on binkis. 



38 THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 



Now wrang hes warrand, and law is bot wilfulnefs ; 

Quha hes the war, is worthin on him all the 

wyte, 50 

For trewth is treffoun, and faith is fals fekilnefs; 

Gylle is now gyd, and vane lufl is aKo delyte; 

Kh'k is contempnit, thay compt nocht Curiing a 
my te ; 
Grit Grod is grevit, that me ryeht fou* forthinkis : 

The eaufe of this ony man may fone wit, 
That want of wyfe men garis fulis fit on binkis. 

Lufe has tane leif, and wirfchip hes no iidir wane, 
With pafling povertie, pryd is importable; 

Yyce is bot vertew, wit is with will foir ourgane. 
As lairdis fo laddis, daly changeable; 60 

But ryme or reffone all is bot heble hable; 

Sic flurtfull fleiring in to Grodis neifs it flinkis : 
But He haif rew all is unremedeable, 

For want of wyfe men garis fulis fit on binkis. 

O Lord of Lordis! God and Gouvernour! 

Makar and movar, bayth of mare and leffe, 
Quhais power, wifedome, gudnes, and honoure, 

Is infynite, now, falbe, and evir wes. 

As thy Evangell planely dois exprefs : 
All thir fayd thingis reforme as thow befl thinkis, 70 

Quhilk ar degradit, for pure pitee redreffe, 
That without fulis, may wyfe men fit on binkis. 



ANE PRAYER FOR THE PEST. 



ETERNE God ! of power infinyt, 

To quhois hie knawlege na thing is obfcure 
That is, or was, or evir falbe, perfyt, 

In to thy iicht, quhill that this warld indure ; 

Haif mercy of us, indigent and pure : 
Thow dois na wrang to puneifs our offens : 

O Lord ! that is to mankynd haill fuecure, 
Preferve us fra this perrelus peftilens. 

We thee befeik, Lord of lordis all ! 

Thy eiris inclyne and heir our grit regrait; 10 
We afk remeid of thee in generall, 

That is of help and confort defolait, 

Bot thow with rewth our hairtis rocreat, 
We ar bot deid but only thy clemens ; 

We thee exhort, on kneis law proflrait, 
Preferve us fra this perrelus peftilens. 

We ar richt glaid thou puneifs our trefpafs 

Be ony kynd of uthir tribulatioun, 
Wer it thy will, O Lord of hevin! allaifs 

That we fould thus be haiflely put doun, 20 



40 



ANE TRAYER FOR THE PEST. 



And dye as beiftis without confeflioun, 
That nane dar mak with uthir refidence. 

bliffit Jhefu! that woir the thorny eroiin, 
Preferve us frome this perrelus peflilens. 

Ufe derth, O Lord ! or feiknes, and hungir foir, 
And flaik thy plaig that is fo penetryve, 

Thy pepill ar perreift, quha ma remeid thairfoir ; 
Bot thow, Lord ! that for thame loft thy ly ve, 
Suppoifs our fyn be to thee pungityve, 

Our deid ma na thing our fynnys recompeiis ; 30 
Haif mercy, Lord ! we ma not with thee ftryve, 

Preferve us frome this perrelus peftilens. 

Haif mercy, Lord ! haif mercy, hevynis king ! 

Haif mercy of thy pepill penetent ; 
Haif mercy of our petoufs punifling ! 

Retreit the fentence of thy jufl jugement 

Aganis us fynnaris, that fervis to be fchent ; 
Without mercy, we ma mak no defens, 

Thow that, but rewth, upoun the rude was rent, 
Preferve us frome this perrellus peftilens. 40 

Remember, Lord! how deir thow hes us bocht. 

That for us fynnaris fched tliy pretius blude, 
Now to redeme that thow hes maid of nocht. 

That is of vertew barrane and denude ; 

Haif rewth. Lord, of thyne awin fymilitude, 
Puneifs with pety and nocht with violens : 

We knaw it is for our ingratitude 
That we ar puneift with tliis peftilens. 



ANE TRAYER FOR THE PEST. 41 



Thow grant us grace for till amend our mifs, 

And till evaid this crewall fiiddane deid, 50 
We knavv our fyn is all the caufs of this, 

For oppin fyn thair is fet no reraeid. 

The Juftiee of God mon puneifs than bot dreid ; 
For by the law He will with non difpens, 

Quhair Juftiee laikis, thair is Eternall feid 
Of God, that fould preferf fra peftilens. 

Bot wald the heiddifmen, that fould keip the law, 
Puneifs the peple for thair tranfgreffioun, 

Thair wald na deid the peple than ourthraw; 
Bot thay ar gevin fo planely till oppreffioun, 60 
That God will nocht heir thair interceflioun ; 

Bot all ar puneift for thair innobediens, 
Be fword or deid, withouttin remiffioun. 

And hes jufl caufe to fend us peftilens. 

Superne, lucerne, guberne this peftilens 

Prefer ve and ferve that we nocht fterve thairin, 
Declyne that pyne, be thy devyne prudens, 

O trewth, haif rewth, lat nocht our flewth us 
twin. 

Our fyt, full tyt, wer we contryt, wald blin, 
Diffevir, did nevir, quha evir thee befocht, 70 

Send grace, with fpace, and us imbrace, fra fyn, 
Latt nocht be tynt that thow fo deir hes bocht. 

O Prince preclair! this care quotidiane, 

We thee exhort, diftort it in exyle; 
Bot thow remeid, this deid, is bot ane trane 



42 ANE PRAYER FOR THE PEST. 



For to diffaif, the laif, and thame begyle ; 

Bot thow fa wyifs, devyifs, to mend this byle, 
Of this mifcheif, quha ma releif us oeht? V| 

For wrangus win, bot thow our fyn, ourfyll, 
Lat nocht be tynt that thow fo deir hes bocht. 80 



Sen for our vyce, that Juftyce mon correct, 
O King mofl hie! now pacific thy feid, 

Our fyn is huge, refuge, we not fufpect, 
As thow art Juge, deluge us of this dreid. 
In tyme alTent, or we be fchent, with deid, 

We us repent, and tyme mifpent forthocht, 
Thairfoir, evirmoir, be gloir, to thy Godheid : 

Lat nocht be tynt that thow fo deir hes bocht. 



4 



SUM PKACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 



GuK, guk, gudday, Sir, gaip quhill ye get it, 

Sic greting may gane weill gud laik in your hude ; 
Ye wald deir me, I trow, beeaufs I am dottit. 

To ruffill me with a ryme, na, Sir, be the rude. 
Your faying I haif fene, and on fyd fet it, 

As geir of all gaddering, glaikit, nocht gude ; 
Als your medecyne by mefour I haif meit met it. 

The quhilk I Hand ford ye nocht underflude, 
Bot wrett on as ye culd to gar folk wene ; 
For feir my longis wes flaft, 10 

Or I wes dottit or daft, 
Gife I can ocht of the craft. 
Heir be it fene. 

Becaus I ken your cunnyng in to cure, 

Is clowtit and clampit and nocht weill cleird. 
My prettik in pottingary ye trow be als pure, 
And lyk to your lawitnes, I fchrew thame that 
leid ; 
Is nowdir fevir, nor fell, that our the feild fure, 

Seiknes nor fairnes in tymo gif I fend. 
But I can lib thame and leiche thame fra lame 
and lefl'ure, 20 



44 SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 



With fa wis thame found mak, on your faule beid : 
Tliat ye be licker of this fedull I fend vow, 

With the futhfafl feggis, 

Tliat glean all egeis, 

With Dia and dreggis, 

Of malis to mend yow. 

Dia Culcakit. 
Cape cuk maid and crop the coUerage, 

Ane medeeyne for the maw and ye cowth mak it, 
With fueit fatlingis and fowrokis, the fop of the fege. 
The crud of my culome, with your teith crakit ; 30 
Lawrean and linget feid, and the luffage, 

The hair of the hurcheoun nocht half deill hakkit. 
With the fnout of ane felche, ane fwelling to fw^age ; 
This cure is callit in our craft Dia Culcakkit. 
Put all thir in ane pan with pepper and pik. 
Syne fettin to this, 
The count of ane fow kifs, 
Is nocht better, I wifs. 
For the collik. 

Dia Longum. 
Recipe, thre ruggis of the reid ruke, 40 

The gant of ane gray meir, the claik of ane gufs, 
The dram of ane dreklerfs, the douk of ane duke, 

The gaw of ane grene dow, the leg of ane lowfs, 
Fj've unce of ane fle wing, the fyn of ane fluke, 

With ane fleif-full of flak that growis in the flufs ; 
Myng all thir in ane mafs with the inone cruke, 

This untment is rycht ganand for your awin ufs, 



SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 45 



With reid nettill feid in flrang wefche to fleip, 
For to bath your ba cod, 

Quhen ye vvald nop and nod, 50 

Is nocht bettir, be God, 

To latt yow to fleip. 

DiA Glaconicon. 
This Dia is rycht deir and denteit in daill 

Caufs it is trefl and trew, thairfoir that ye tak 
Sevin fobbis of ane felche, the quhidder of ane quhaill, 

The lug of ane lenipet is nocht to forfaik. 
The harnis of ane haddok, hakkit or haill,. 

With ane buflfull of blude of the fcho-bak. 
With ane brewing caldrun full of hait caill. 

For it wilbe the foftar and fvveittar of the fmak ; 60 
Thair is not lie ane lechecraft fra Lawdian to 
Lundin, 
It is clippit in our cannon 
Dia Glecolicon, 
For to fle awa the fon, 

Quhair fulis ar fundin. 

Dia Custbum. 
The ferd feilik is fyne, and of ane felloun pryce, 

Gud for hailing, and hofling, or heit at the hairt ; 
Recipe, thre fponfull of the blak fpyce, 

With ane grit gowpene of the gowk fart ; 
The lug of ane ly vin, the gufe of ane gryce ; 70 

Ane mice of ane ofler poik at the nether parte ; 
Annoyntit with nurice doung, for it is rycht nyce, 

Myngit with myfe dirt and with muflart ; 



46 SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 



Ye may clamp to this cure, and ye will mak coft, 
Bayth the bellox of ane brok, 
With three era wis of the cok, 
The fchadow of ane Yule ftok, 

Is gud for the hoft. 

Grud nycht, guk, guk, for fa I began, 

I haif no toure at this tyme langer to tary, 80 
Bot luk on this lettir, and leird gif ye can ; 

The prettik and poyntis of this Pottingary, 
Sir, minifler this medecyne at evin to fum man, 

And or pryme be pafb, my powder I pary, 
They fall blifs yow or ellis bittirly yow ban ; 

For it fall fle thame, in faith, out of the fary : 
Bot luk quhen ye gadder thir greffis and gerfs, 
Outhir fawrand or four, 
That it be in ane gude houre : 
It is ane mirk mirrour, 90 

Ane uthir mannis erfs. 



I 



OKPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



t 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 

# 

The nobilnefs and grete magnificence 
Off prince or lord, quha lift to magnify, 

His grete anceftry, and lyniall defcenfe 
Suld firft extoll, and his genology. 
So that his hert he mycht enclyne thareby 

The moir to vertewe, and to worthynes, 

Herand reherfe his eldaris gentilnes. 

It is contrair the lawis of nature 

A gentill man to be degenerate, 
Nocht following of his progenitoure 10 

The worthy reule, and the lordly eftate ; 

A ryall renke for to be rufticate. 
Is bot a monfler in comparifoun, 
Had in defpyte, and foule derifioun. 

I fay this be the grete lordis of Grewe 

Quhilkis fet thair hert, and all thair hale curage, 

Thair faderis fteppis juftly to perfewe, 

Ekyng the worfchip of thair hye lynnage; 
The auncient and fad wyfe men of age, 

War^endouris to the young and infolent, 20 

To mak thaim in all vertewe excellent. 



50 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 






Lyke as a flrand of water or a fpring 
Haldis the fapour of his fontale well, 

So did in Grece ilk lord, and worthy king, 
Off forebearis thay tuke carage and fmell 
Amangis the quhilkis of ane I think to tell : 

Bot firfl his gentill generatioun 

I fall reherfe, with youre correctioun. 

Apone the mountane of Eliconee 

The mofl famoufe of all Arabia, 30 

A Goddeffe duelt, excellent of beautee. 

Gentile of blude, callit Memoria; 

Quhilk Jupiter that god to wyf can ta. 
And carnaly hir knewe, quhilk eftir fyne, 
Apon a day, bair hym fair douchteris nyne. 

The first in Grewe was callit Euterpe, 
In oure langage gude dilectacioun : 

The fecund maid namyt Melpomene, 
As hony fuete in modulacioun : 
Terfycore, quhilk is gude inflructioun 40 

Of every thing, the thrid lifler, I wis ; 

Thus out of Grewe in Latyne tranflate is. 

Caliope that maidyn mervailous, 

The ferde fifter of all mufick maiflreffe ; 

And moder to the king Sir Orpheus, 

Quhilk throw his wyf was efter king of Trace : 
Cleo the fyft, that now is a goddeffe. 

In Latyne callit meditatioun, 

Of every thing that has creatioun. 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. ,51 



The fext lady was callit Herato, 50 

Quliilk dravvis lyke to lyke in every thing : 

The fevynt lady was fair PoUymyo, 

Quhilk coud a thoufand fangis fwetly fyng : 
Thelya fyne, quhilk can oure faiilis bring 

To profund wit, and grete agilitee 

To underftand, and have capaeitee. 

Uranya the nynt and laft of all, 

In oure langage quha coud it wele expound, 

Is callit armony celefliall, 
Rejofing men with melody and found. GU 

Amang thir nyne Caliope was crownd. 

And maid a quene be mychty god Phebus, 

Of quhom he gat this prince Schir Orpheus. 

No woundir is thocht he was fair and wyfe, 
Gentill, and full of liberal ite. 

His fader god, and his progenitryfe 
A goddefs, fyndar of all armonye: 
Quhen he was borne fcho fet him on hir kne, 

And gart him fowke of hir twa palpis quhyte 

The fweit licour of all mufick perfyte. 70 

Quhen he was auld, fone to manheid he drewe, 
Of flatur large, and farly fair of face; 

His noble fame fo far it fprang and grewe, 
Till at the laft the mychty Quene of Trace, 
Excellent fair, haboundand in richefs, 

Ane meffage fend unto this Prince fo ying, 

Requyrand him to wed hir, and be kyng. 



52 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



Erudices that lady had to name, 

Quhen that fcho faw this prince fo glorius, 

Hir erand to propone fcho thocht no fchame, 80 
With wordis fweit, and blenkis amoroufs, 
Said, " Welcome lord and luf, Schir Orpheus, 

In this province ye fall be king and lord !" 

Thai kiffit fyne, and thus war at accord. 

Betwene Orpheus and fair Erudices, 

Era thai war weddit, on fra day to day 

The lowe of luf couth kendill and encrefs. 

With myrth, blythnefs, gret plefans and gret play 
Off warldlie joye ; allace, quhat fall we fay ? 

Lyke till a flour that plefandly will fpring, 90 

Quhilk fadis fone, and endis with murnyng! 

I fay this be Erudices the queue, 

Quhilk walkit furth in till a Maij mornyng. 
And with a madyn, in a medowe grene, 

To tak the dewe, and fe the flouris fpring ; 

Quhar in a fchawe, nere by this lady ying, 
A bufteoufs hird callit Aryflyus, 
Kepand his beflis, lay under a bufs ; 

And quhen he faw this lady folitair, 

Bairfute, with fchankis quhytar than the fnawe, 100 

Prikkit with luft, he thocht withoutin mair 
Hir till opprefs, and till hir can he drawe: 
Dredand for fcaith fcho fled, quhen fcho him faw ; 

And as fcho ran all bairfut on ane bufs, 

Scho ftrampit on a ferpent vennomufs. 



ORPHKUS AND EURYDICK. C>^ 



This cruell veniionie was fo penitryf, 
As natur is of all mortall poyfoun, 

In peicis fniall this Quenis hart couth ryf, 
And fcho anone fell in a deidly fwoun : 
Seand this cais, Proferpyne maid hir boune 110 

Quhilk clepit is the Goddes Infernall, 

And till hir court this gentill Quene couth call. 

And quhan fcho vanyft was and invifible, 
Hir madin wepit with a wofull cheir, 

Cryand with mony fchout and voce terrible, 
Quhill at the lall Schir Orpheus couth heir, 
And of hir cry the caufe than can he fpeir? 

Scho faid, " Allace, Erudices your quene 

Is with the Fary tane befoir myne ene." 

This noble King inflammit all in ire, 120 

And rampand as ane lyoun ravenus, 

With awful 1 luke, and eyne glowand as fyre, 
Speris the maner, and the maid faid thus : 
" Scho ftrampit on a ferpent vennomufs. 

And fell in fwoun, with that the Quene of Fary 

Claucht hir up fone, and furthwith hir couth cary." 

Quhen fcho had faid, the King fichit full fore, 
His liert nere birfl for verray dule and wo, 

Half out of mynd, he maid na tary more, 

Bot tuke his harpe, and to the wod can go ; 130 
Wryngand his handis, walkand to and fro, 

Quhill he mycht fland, fyne fat doun on a ftone, 

And to his harpe thusgate he maid his mone : — 



54 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



*' DULFULL Harpe, with mony dolly flryng, 
Turne all thy mirth and mufik in murnyng, 

And ceifs of all thy fubtell fangis fweit, 
Now wepe with me thy lord and careful! kyng, 
Quhilk lofit has in erd all his lyking; 

And all thy game thow change in gule, and 
greit, 

Thy goldin pynnis with thy teris weit, 140 
And all my pane for to report thow prefs, 

Cry and with me, in every field and flreit, 
Quhar art thow gane my luf Erudices?'' 

Him to rejofs yit playit he a fpryng, 
Quhill all the foulis of the wod can fyng, 

And treis danfit with thair leves grene, 
Him to devoid of his gret womenting, 
Bot all in vane, thai comfort him no thing, 

His hart was fa apon his lufly Quene ; 

The bludy teres fprang out of his eyne, 150 
Thar was na folace micht his fobbing ceis, 

Bot cryit ay, with caris cald and kene, 
"• Quhar art thow gane my luf Erudices?" 

" Fair weill my place, fair weill plefance, and play, 
And welcome woddis wyld, and wiKome way. 

My wickit werd in wildernefs to wair ; 
My rob ryall, and all my riche array, 
Changit fall be in rude ruflat of gray, 
My diademe in till ane hat of hair. 
My bed fall be with bever, broke, and bair, IGO 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. Oo 

111 bufkis bene with mony bufteoufs befs, 

Withoiitin fang, fayand with fiching fair, 
Quhar art thow gane my luf Erudices ? 

" 1 thee befeike, my fair fader Phebus, 
Have pete of thy awne fone Orpheus ; 

Wait thow nocht wele I am thy barne and 
child : 
Now heir my plaint panefull and peteoufe, 
Direct me fra this deid fa dolorufe, 

Quhilk gois thus without! n gilt begyld, 

Lat not thy face with cloudis be ourfyld, 170 
Len me thy licht, and let me nocht ga lefs. 

To fynd that fair, in fan>e that never was fyld, 
My lady Quene and luf, Erudices." 

" Jupiter, thow god celelliall. 

And grantfchir to my felf, on thee I call 

To mend my murnyng and my drery mono, 
Thou geve me forfe, that I noucht faynt nor fall, 
Quhill I hir fynd ; forfuth feke hir I fall, 

And nouthir flynt, nor Hand for flok nor flone. 

Throw thy godhede gyde me quhare fcho is 
gone, 180 

Ger hir appere, and put my hert in pes." — 

Thus king Orpheus, with his harpe allone, 
Sore wepit for his wyf Erudices. 

Quhen endit was thir fangis lamentable, 

He tuke his harp, and on his brest can liyng, 
Syne paffit to the hevin, as fayis the fable, 



56 



ORPHEUS AND EURTDICE. 



To feke his wyf, bot that availit no thing : 
By Wadlyng Strete he went but tarying, 
Syne come doun throw the fpere of Saturn aid, 
Quhilk fader is of all thir flernis cald. 190 

Quhen fcho was fought out throw that cald regioun, 
To Jupiter his grantfchir can he wend, 

Quhilk rewit fare his lamentatioun, 

And gert his fpere be foucht fra end to end; 
Scho was noucht thare, than doun he can de- 
fcend, 

To Mars the god of battaill and of flryf, 

And foucht his fpere, yit gat he noucht his wyf. 

Syne went he doun to his fader Phebus, 

God of the fon, wyth hemes brycht and clere, 

Bot quhen that he faw his fone Orpheus 200 
In fik a plyte, it changit all his chere. 
He gert anon go feke throw all his fpere; 

Bot all in vayn, that lady come noucht thare : 

Than tuke he leve, and to Yenus can fare. 



Quhen he hir faw, he knelit and faid thus : 
'* Wate ye noucht wele, I am your awyne trew 
knycht, 
In lufe nane lelar than Schir Orpheus, 

And ye of lufe goddeffe, and mofl of mycht, 
Oflf my lady helpe me to get a ficht." 
" For futh (quod fcho), ye mon feke nethir- 
mare."' 210 

Than fra Yenus he tuke his leve but mare. 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 57 



To Mercury but tary is he gone, 

Quhilk eallit is the God of Eloquence, 

Bot of his wyf thare knaulage gat he none ; 
Wyth wofull hert than palTit he doune fro thens. 
Unto the Mone he maid na reiidence. 

Thus fra the hevyn he went doun to the erd, 

Yit by the way fum melody he lerd. 

In his paffage amang the planetis all, 

He herd a hevynly melody and found, 220 

Faffing all inflrumentis muiicall, 

Caufit be rollyng of the Speris round; 
Quhilk armony throw all this mappamound 

Quhill moving cefTes unyte perpetuall, 

Quhilk of this warld Plato the faule can call. 

Thare leirit he tonys proportionate. 
As Duplar, Triplar, and Emetricus, 

Enoleus, and eke the Quadruplate, 
Epodyus rycht hard and curious; 
And of thir fex, fuete and delicius, 230 

Ryght confonant fyve hevynly fymphonyis 

Componyt ar, as clerkis can devife. 

Firft Dyatefferon full fuete I wis. 

And Dyapafon fymple and duplycate, 

And Dyapente componyt with a Dys, 
Thir maids five of thre multiplicate ; 
This mery mufik and mellifluate. 

Complete and full wyth nowmeris od and evyn. 

Is caufit be the moving of the hevyn. 



58 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



Off Ilk mufik to wryte I do bot dote, 240 

Tharfor at this mater a lira I lay, 

For in my lyf I coud nevir fyng a note, 
Bot I will tell how Orpheus tuke the way, 
To feke his wyf attour the gravis gray, 

Hungry and cald our mony wilfum wone, 

Wythoutyn gyde, he and his harpe allone. 

He paffit furth the fpace of twenty dayis, 
Fer and full ferther than I can tell; 

And ay he fand ftretis and redy wayis. 

Till at the laft unto the yett of Hell 250 

He come, and thare he fand a portar fell 

With thre hedis, was callit Cerberus, 

A hound of hell, a monfter mervailus. 

Than Orpheus began to be agafl, 

Quhen he beheld that ugly hellis hound ; 

He tuke his harpe, and on it play it fall. 

Till at the laft, throw fuetenes of the found, 
The dog llepit and fell unto the ground, 

And Orpheus attour his wame in ftall. 

And nethirmare he went, as ye heir fall. 260 

Than come he till ane ryvir wonder depe. 
Our it a brig, and on it Sifteris thre, 

Quhilk had the entree of the brig to kepe. 
Alecto, Megera, and Thefiphonee, 
Turnand a quhele was ugly for to fee. 

And on it fpred a man hecht Ixione 

RoUit about rycht wounder wo begone. 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 59 



Than Orpheus play it a joly fpryng, 

The thre fiftiris full fall thay fell on ilepc, 

The ugly quhele feifit of hir quhirlyng, 270 

Thus left was non the entree for to kepe. 
Than Ixione out of the quhele can crepe, 

And ftall away, than Orpheus anone, 

Without Hopping, attour the brig is gone. 

Syne come he till a wonder grifely flud, 

Droubly and depe that rathly doun can ryn, 

Quhare Tantalus nakit full thrifty flude, 
And yit the water yede abone his chyn, 
Thouch he gapit thare wald na drop cum in, 

Quhen he dulkit the water wald defcend, 280 

Thus gat he nocht his thrift to flake no mend. 

Before his face ane apill hang also, 

Fafl at his mouth apon a tolter threde, 

Quhen he gapit it rokkit to and fro, 
And fled, as it refuiit him to fede ; 
Than Orpheus had reuth of his grete nede, 

Tuke out his harpe, and faft on it can clink. 

The water flude, and Tantalus gat drink. 

Syne our a mure, wyth thornis thik and fcharp, 
Weping allone a wilfum way he went, 290 

And had nocht bene throw fuffi-age of his harj), 
Wyth fcharp pikis he had bene fchorne and fchent ; 
And as he blent befyde hym on the bent. 

He faw fpcldit a wonder wofull wicht 

Nailit full faft-, and Tityus he hicht. 



60 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



And on his brefte there fat a grifely grype, 
Quhilk wyth his bill his belly throw can bore, 

Bath maw, mydred, hert, lywir, and trype 
He ruggit out, his paynis war the more ; 
Quhen Orpheus faw hym this fufFer fore, 300 

Has tane his harp, and made fuete melody. 

The grype is fled, Tityus left his cry. 

Beyond this mure he fand a ferefuU ftrete, 
Myrk as the nyclit, to pas rycht dangerous, 

For flydernes fcant mycht he hald his fete. 
In quhilk thare was a flynk rycht odioufe, 
That gydit hym to hydoufe Hellis houfe, 

Quhare Rodomantus and Proferpina 

Were king and queue, Orpheus in coud ga. 

O dolly place, and grondles depe dungeoun ! 310 
Furnes of fyre, wyth fl;ynk intollerable. 

Pit of difpair, wythout remiflioun. 

Thy mete venym, thy drink is poyfonable, 
Thy grete paynis to compt unnowmerabil, 

Quhat creature cummys to duell in thee. 

Is ay deyand, and nevir more may dee ! 

Thare fand he mony carefull kyng and queue, 
Wyth croune on hede of brafle full hate birnand, 

Quhilk in thair lyf rycht maifterfull had bene 
Conquerour of gold, richefle, and of land. 320 
Hector of Troy, and Priam thare he fand, 

And Alexander for his wrang conqueft : 

Antiocus thare for his foule inceft. 



I 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 61 



Thare fand he Julius Cefar foi* his crueltee, 
And Herode with his brotheris wyf he fa we ; 

And Nero for his grete iniquitee, 

And Pilot for his breking of the lawe ; 
Syne under that he lukit, and coud knawe 

Crefus the king, none michtiar on mold 

For covatife, yitt full of byrnand gold. 330 

Thare fand he Pharo, for oppreffioun 

Off Goddis folk, on quhilk the plagis fell ; 

And Saul, eke for the grete abufioun 
Of juflice to the folk of Ifraell ; 
Thare fand he Achab, and quene Jefabell, 

Quhilk fely Nabot, that was a prophet trewe, 

For his vyne-yarde wythoutyn pitee flewe. 

Thare fand he mony pape and cardinall, 
In Haly Kirk quhilk dois abufioun ; 

And bifchopis in thair pontificall, 340 

Be fymony for wrang miniftratioun ; 
Abbotis and men of all religioun, 

For evill difponyng of thair placis rent, 

In flame of fyre were bitterly turment. 

Syne nethir mare he went quhare Pluto was 
And Proferpine, and thiderward he drewe, 

Ay playand on his harpe as he coud pas, 
Till at the laft Erudices he knewe, 
Lene and dedelike, petoufe and pale of hewe, 

Rycht warfch and wan, and wallowit as a wede, 350 

Hir lily lyre was lyke unto the lede. 



62 ORPHEUS AND EURTDICE. 



Quod he, " My Lady lele, and my delyte, 
Full wa is me to fe yow changit thus ; 

Quhare is thy rude as rofe wyth chekis quhite, 
Thy eriflall eyne, with blenkis amoroufe, 
Thi lippis rede to kifs delicioufe f 

Quod fcho, " As now, I dar noucht tell perfay, 

Bot ye fall wit the eaufe ane othir day." 

Quod Pluto, " Sir, thoucht fcho be like ane elf, 
Thare is na eaufe to plenye, and for quhy?360 

Scho fure als wele dayly as did my felf, 
Or king Herode for all his chevalry : 
It is langour that puttis hir in fik ply ; 

Were fcho at hame in hir contree of Trace, 

Scho wald refete full fone in fax and face." 

Than Orpheus before Pluto fat doune. 

And in his handis quhite his harp can ta, 

And playit mony fuete proporcioun, 
With bafe tonys in Ypodorica, 
With Gemynyng in Ypolerica ; 370 

Till at the lafl for reuth and grete pitee. 

They wepit fore, that coud him here and fee. 

Than Proferpyne and Pluto bad hym as 

His warifoun ; and he wald afk rycht noucht 

Bot licence wyth his wyf away to pas 

Till his contree, that he fo fer had foucht. 
Quod Proferpyne, " Sen I hir hiddir broucht, 

We fall noucht part bot with conditioun." 

Quod he, '• Thareto I mak promiflioun." 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. G3 



" Erudices than be the hand thou tak, 380 

And pas thy way, bot underneth this pay no, 

Gyf thou turnis or Menkis behind thy bak, 
We fall hir have for evir till Hell agayn." 
Thouch this was hard, yit Orpheus was fayn, 

And on thai went, talkand of play and fport, 

Quhill thay almaift com to the utter port. 

Thus Orpheus wyth inwart lufe replete 
So blyndit was in grete aiFectioun, 

Penfyfe apon his wyf and lady fuete, 

Remembrit noucht his hard conditioun. 390 
Quhat will ye more? in fchort conclulioun, 

He blent bakward, and Pluto com anon, 

And unto Hell agayn with hir is gone. 

AUace! it was rycht grete hert fare to here 
Of Orpheus the weping and the wo, 

Quhen that his wyf, quhilk he had bocht fo dere, 
Bot for a luke fa fone was hynt him fro ; 
Flatlyngis he fell, and mycht no forthir go. 

And lay a quhile in fwoun and extafy, 

Quhen he ourcome, thus out on lufe can cry. 400 

" Quhat art thou lufe, how fall I thee dyfFyne ? 
Bitter and fuete, cruel and merciable, 

Plefand to fum, til othir playnt and pyne, 
To fum conflant, till othir variabil, 
Hard is thy law, thy bandis unbrekable, 

Quha fervis thee, thoucht he be never fa trewe, 

Perchance fum tyme, he fall have caufe to rewe. 



64 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



" Now fynd I wele, this proverbe trew (quod 
he), 
Hertis on the hurd, and handis on the fore, 

Quhare lufe gois, on forfe turnis the ee : 410 

I am expert and woe is me tharfore, 
But for a luke my lady is forlore/' — 

Thus ehydand on with lufe, our burn and bent, 

A wofull wedow hamewart is he went. 



MORALITAS FABUL^ SEQUITUR. 

Lo worthy folk, Boece that fenature 

To wryte this fenyeit fable tuke in cure. 

In his gay Buke of Confolatioun, 

For oure doctryne, and gude inflructioun ; 

Quhiik in the felf fuppofe it fenyeit be, 

And hid under the cloke of poefie, 420 

Yit maifler Triwit doctour Nicholas, 

Quhiik in his tyme a noble theologe was, 

Applyis it to gude moralitee, 

Rycht full of frute and feriofitee. 

Fair Phebus is the god of fapience, 

Caliopee his wyf is eloquence : 

Thir twa maryit gat Orpheus belyve, 

Quhiik callit is the part intellective 

Of mannis faule, in underftanding free. 

And feperate fra fenfualitee : 430 

Erudices is oure affectioun, 

Be fantafy oft movit up and doun, 



i 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 65 



Quhile to refoun it caflis the delyte, 
Quhile to the flefche it fettis the appetite. 
Aryflyus this hird that coud perfewe 
Erudices, is noucht bot gude vertewe, 
Quhilk befy is ay to kepe oure myndis clene, 
Bot quhen we flee outthrow the medowe grene 
Fra vertu, to this warldis vayn plefanee, 
Myngit wyth care, and full of variance, 440 

The ferpentis flang, that is the dedely fyn 
That poyfons the faule wythout and in, 
And than is dede and eke oppreflit doun 
To wardly luft all oure affectioun. 

Than perfyte refoun wepis wondir fare 
Seand oure appetite thus gate mysfare 
And paffis up to the hevyn belyve, 
Schawand till us the lyf contemplatyve, 
The perfyte will, and als the fervent lufe 
We fuld have alway to the hevyn abufe; 450 
Bot feldyn thare oure appetite is found, 
It is fo faft in to the body bound, 
Tharfor dounwart we cafl oure myndis ee, 
Blyndit wyth lufl, and may noucht upward flee, 
Suld oure defyre be foucht up in the fperis, 
Quhen it is tedderit on this warldis breris, 
Quhile on the flefche, quhile on this warldis wrak, 
And to the hevyn full fmall entent we tak. 

Schir Orpheus, thou fekis all in vayn 
Thy wyf fo hie, tharfor cum doun agayn 460 
And pas unto yone monflir mervailus. 
With thre hedis that we call Cerberus, 
Quhilk feyneit is, to have fa mony heidis, 

E 



66 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



For to betakyn thre maner of deidis. 

The firft is in the tender yong barnage, 

The fecund dede is in the myddill age, 

The thrid is, in grete elde quhen men ar tane. 

Thus Cerberus to fwelly fparis nane, 

Bot quhen that refoun and intelligence 

Playis apon the harpe of eloquence, 470 

That is to fay, makis perfuafioun 

To draw oure will, and oure affectioun 

In every elde fra fyn and foule delyte, 

This dog oure faule no power has to byte. 

The fecund monflris ar the fifleris thre, 
Alecto, Megera, and Thefiphone, 
Ar noueht ellis, in bukis as we rede, 
Bot wickit thoucht, evill word, and frawart dede. 
Alecto is the bolnyng of the hert, 
Megera is the wikkit word outwert, 480 

Thefiphone is operatioun. 
That makis fynal executioun 
Of dedly fyn, and thir thre tumis ay 
Ane ugly quhele, is noueht ellis to fay, 
That warldly men fumtyme ar callin hie 
Apon the quhele, in grete profperitee. 
And wyth a quhirl, unwarly or thai vritte, 
Ar thrawin doun to pure and law eftate. 

Of Ixion that on the quhele was fpred, 
I fall the tell fum pairt as I have red : 490 

He was on lyve brukle and lecheroufe, 
And in that craft hardy and curageoufe, 
That he wald nocht lufe in na lawar place 
Bot Juno, queue of nature and goddeffe; 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. G7 



And on a day he went up in tlie fky, 

Sekand Juno, thinkand with hir to ly ; 

Scho faw hym cum and knew his full entent, 

A rany cloud doun fra the firmament 

Scho gert defcend, and kefl betuene thaim two, 

And in that cloud his nature yede hym fro, 500 

Of quhilk was generit the Centauris, 

Half man, half horfe, apon a ferly wyfe ; 

Than for the inward crabbing and offenfe 

That Juno tuke for his grete violence, 

Scho fend hym doun unto the filleris thre, 

Apon thair quhele ay turnyt for to be. 

Bot quhen refloun and perfyte fapience 

Playis upone the herp of eloquens. 

And perfuadis our flefchly appetyte 

To leif the thocht of this warldly delyte, 510 

Than feiffis of our hert the wicket will, 

Fra frawart language than the tong is flill, 

Our fynfuU deidis fallis doun on fleip ; 

Than Ixione out of the quheill gan creip. 

That is to fay, the grete follicitude, 

Quhile up, quhile doun, to wyn this warldis gud, 

Ceiflis farthwith, and oure complexioun 

Waxis quiete in contemplacioun. 

This Tantalus of quham I fpak of are, 
QuMIl he lyvit he was a gay hoflillare, 520 

And on a nycht come travaland thare by 
The god of riches, and tuke berbery 
Wyth Tantalus, and he to the foupere 
Slewe his awin fone, that was hym lef and dere, 
In till a fewe wyth fpicis fodyn wele, 



68 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



And gert the god ete up his flefch ilk dele. 

For this defpyte quhen he was dede anon 

Was dampnyt, in the flude of Acheron, 

To faffer hunger, thrift, nakit and eald, 

Rycht wobegone, as I before have tald. 530 

This hungry man and thrifty Tantalus 

Betakenis men gredy and covatoufe, 

The god of riches that ar ay redy 

For to reflave, and call in berbery, 

And to thame fethe thair fone in pecis fmale, 

That is thair flefch and blude wyth grete travale. 

To fill the bag, and never fynd in thair hart 

Apone thame felf to fpend, nor tak thair part ; 

Allace in erd quhare is thare mare foly 

Than for to want and have haboundantly, 540 

To have diftreffe on bak, and bed, and burde. 

And fpare till othir men of gold a hurde. 

And in the nycht flepe foundly may thai noucht^ 

To gadder geir fa gredy is thair thoucht. 

Bot quhen that refon and intelligence 

Playis upoun the herp of confcience, 

Schawand to ws quhat perrell on ilk fyd 

That thai incur quliay will trefl or confyd 

In to this warldis vane profperitie, 

Quhilk hes thir fory properteis thre, 550 

That is to fay, gottyn with grete laboure, 

Kepit with drede, and tynt is with doloure ; 

This avarice be grace quha underftud, 

I trow fuld leve thair grete folicitude. 

And ithand thouchtis, and thair he befynes 

To gader gold, and fyne lyve in diftres, 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 69 



Bot he fuld drink ineuch quhen evir hym lift 
Of covatife, and flake the birnand thrift. 

This Tityus lay nailit on the bent, 
And wyth the grype his bowellis ry vin and rent, 560 
Quhill he lyvit fett his entencioun 
To fynd the craft of divinacioun, 
And lerit it unto the fpa-men all, 
To tell before fik thingis as wald befall, 
Quhat lyf, quhat dede, quhat deftyny and werd, 
Providit were to every man in erde. 
Apollo than for this abulioun, 
Quhilk is the god of divinacioun. 
For he ufurpit in his facultee, 
Put hym till hell, and thare remanis he. 570 

Ilk man that heiris this conclufioun, 
Suld dreid to ferfs be conftillatioun 
Thingis to fall undir the firmament, 
Till ye or na quhilk ar indefferent, 
Without profixit caufs and certane, 
Quhilk nane in erd may knaw bot God allane. 
Quhen Orpheus upoun his harp can play. 
That is our undirftanding for to fay, 
Cryis, man, recleme thy folich harte. 
Will thou be God and tak on the his parte ? 580 
To tell thingis to cum that nevir wilbe, 
Quhilk God hes kepit in his prevetie? 
Thow ma no mair offend to God of micht, 
Na with thy fpaying reif fra him his richt, 
This perfyte wifdome with his melody 
Fleyis the fpreit of fenyeid profecy, 



70 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 



And drawis upwart our affectioun. ^ 

Fra wichcraft, fpaying, and forfery, 

And fuperflitioun of aflrology, 

Saif allanerly fie maner of thingis 590 

Quhilk upoun trew and certane cauffis hingis, 

The quhilk mone cum to thair cans indure, 

On veiry forfs, and nocht throw avanture, 

As is the clippis and the conjunctioun 

Of fone and mone be calculatioun, 

The quhilk ar fiindin in trew aflronomy, 

Be moving of the fpeiris in the sky, 

All thir to fpeik it may be tollerable, 

And none udir quhilk no caflis flable. 

This ugly way, this myrk dully llreit, 600 

Is nocht ellis bot blinding of the fpreit 
With myrk cluddis and myfl of ignorance, 
Affetterit in this warldis vane plefance, 
And biffines of temporalite, 
To kene the felf a flyme it may nocht fe, 
For fcammeris on eftir effectioun, 
Fra ill to war ale thus to hale gois doun, 
Than is wanhowp throw lang banting of fyn, 
And fowll difpair, that mony fallis in. 
Than Orpheus our reffoun is full wo, 610 

And twichis on his harp and biddis ho, 
Till our defy re and fulich appetyte 
Bidis leif this warldis fowll delyte. 
Than Pluto, god and queue of Hellis fyre, 

' A line is probably wanting. 



< 



ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 71 



Mone grant to reffoun on forfs the defyre. 

Than Orpheus hes wone Erudices, 

Quhen our defyre with reffoun makis pefs, 

And feikis up to contemplatioun, 

Off fyn detefland the abulioun, 

Bot ilk man fuld be war, and wifely fee 620 

That he bakwart caft noucht his myndis ee, 

Gevand confent, and dilectatioun, 

Off wardly luft for the affectioun ; 

For than gois bakwart to the fyn agayn, 

Oure appetite as it before was flayn 

In warldly lufl and fenfualitee, 

And makis refoun wedow for to be. 

Now pray we God fen oure affectioun 

Is alway prompt and redy to fall doun, 

That He wald help us wyth his haly hand 630 

Of manetenance, and geve us grace to fland 

In perfyte lufe, as He is glorius. 

And thus endis the Tale of Orpheus. 



) 



4 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID, 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Ane doolie feffoun to ane cairfull dyte 
Suld correfpond, and be equivalent ; 

Richt fa it wes quhen I began to wryte 
This tragedie, the wedder richt fervent, 
Quhen Aries in middis of the Lent, 

Schouris of haill can fra the North difcend, 

That fcantlie fra the cauld I micht defend. 

Yit nevertheles within myne oratur 

I ftude, quhen Titan had his bemis bricht 

Withdrawin doun, and fylit under cure, 10 

And fair Yenus, the bewtie of the nicht, 
TJprais, and fet unto the weft full richt 

Hir goldin face, in oppofitioun 

Of god Phebus direct difcending doun. 

Throwout the glas hir bemis brafl fa fair, 
That I micht fe on everie fyde me by. 

The northin wind had purifyit the air, 
And fched the niiftie cloudis fra the fky ; 
The froifl freifit, the blaflis bitterly 

Fra Pole Artick come quhifling loud and fchill, 20 

And caufit me remufe aganis my will. 



76 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



For I traiftit that Venus, luifis quene, 
To quhome fum tyme I hecht obedience, 

My faidit hart of lufe fcho wald mak grene ; 
And therupon, with humbill reverence, 
I thocht to pray hir hie magnificence ; 

Bot for greit cald as than I lattit was, 

And in my chalmer to the fyre can pas. 

Thocht lufe be hait, yit in ane man of age 
It kendillis nocht fa fone as in youtheid, 30 

Of quhome the blude is flowing in ane rage, 
And in the auld the curage doif and deid ; 
Of quhilk the fire outward is beft remeid, 

To help be phifike quhair that nature faillit 

I am expert, for baith I have afiailit. 

I mend the fyre, and beikit me about. 

Than tuik ane drink my fpreitis to comfort. 

And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout ; 
To cut the winter nicht, and mak it fchort, 
I tuik ane Quair, and left all uther fport, 40 

Writtin be worthie Chaucer glorious, 

Of fair Crefleid and luflie Troylus. 

And thair I fand, efter that Diomeid 
Reffavit had that Lady bricht of hew. 

How Troylus neir out of wit abraid, 

And weipit foir, with vifage paill of hew ; 
For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew, 

Quhill Esperus rejoiiit him agane : 

Thus quhyle in joy he levit, quhile in pane. 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 77 



Of hir behefl he had greit comforting, 50 

Training to Troy that fcho fuld mak retour, 

Quhilk he defyrit maifl of eirdly thing; 
For quhy ? fcho was his only paramour : 
Bot quhen he faw paffit baith day and hour 

Of hir ganecome, than forrow can oppres 

His wofall hart, in cair and hevines. 

Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs, 
For worthie Chauceir, in the famin buik, 

In gudelie termis, and in joly veirs, 

Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik. 60 

To brek my fleip ane uther quair I tuik, 

In quhilk I fand the fatall deftenie 

Of fair Creffeid, that endit wretchitlie. 

Quha wait, gif all that Chauceir wrait w^as trew? 

Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun 
Be authoreift, or fenyeit of the new, 

Be fum Poeit, throw his inventioun 

Maid to report the Lamentatioun 
And wofoll end of this luflie Creffeid ^ 
And quhat diftres fcho thoillit, and quhat deid ! 70 

Quhen Diomed had all his appetyte. 
And mair, fulfillit of this fair Ladie, 

Upon ane uther he fet his haill delyte, 
And fend to hir ane lybell of repudie; 
And hir excludit fra his companie. 

Than defolait fcho walkit up and doun. 

And, fum men fay is, in to the Court commoun. 



78 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



4 



O, fair Creffeid! the floure and A per se 

Of Troy and Grece, how was thow fortunait ! 

To change in filth all thy feminitie, 80 

And be with flefchelie lull fa maculait, 
And go amang the Greikis air and lait, 

Sa giglotlike, takand thy foull plefance; 

I have pietie thow fuld fall fie mifchance! 

Yit nevertheles, quhat ever men deme or fay 
In fcornefuU langage of thy brukkilnes, 

I fall excufe, als far furth as may, 

Thy womanheid, thy wifdome, and fairnes; 
The quhilk Fortoun hes put to fie diftres 

As hir pleifit, and na thing throw the gilt 90 

Of thee, throw wickit langage to be fpilt. 

This fair Lady, in this wyfe defl;itute 
Of all comfort and confolatioun, 

Richt privelie but fellowfchip, on fate 
Difagyfit paflit far out of the toun 
Ane myle or twa, unto ane manfioun, 

Beildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas 

Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was. 

Quhan he hir faw, the caus he can inquyre 
Of hir cuming ? Scho faid, fiching full foir, 100 

" Fra Diomeid had gottin his defyre 

He wox werie, and wald of me no moir." 
Quod Calchas, " Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir, 

Peraventure all cummis for the befl;, 

Welcum to me, thow art full deir ane gefli." 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 79 



This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho, 
Wes keeper of the tempill as ane preift 

In quhilk Yenus and hir fone Cupido 

War honourit, and his chalmer was thame neift, 
To quhilk Creffeid, with baill aneuch in breifl, 110 

Ufit to pas, hir prayeris for to fay; 

Quhill at the laft, upon ane folempne day, 

As cuflome was, the pepill far and neir, 
Befoir the none, unto the tempill went 

With facrifice devoit in thair maneir : 
But fliU Creffeid, hevie in hir intent, 
In to the kirk wald not hir felf prefent, 

For givin of the pepill ony deming, 

Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the king; 

Bot pafl into ane fecreit orature, 120 

Quhair fcho micht weip hir wofuU defleny ; 

Behind hir bak fcho cloilit fall the dure. 
And on 'hir kneis bair fell down in hy, 
Upon Venus and Cupide angerly 

Scho cryit out, and faid on this fame wyfe, 

" Allace ! that ever I maid yow facrifice. 

" Ye gave me anis ane devine refponfaill. 
That I fuld be the flour of luif in Troy, 

Now am I maid an unworthie outwaill. 

And all in eair tranflatit is my joy, 130 

Quha fall me gyde? quha fall me now convoy, 

Sen I fra Diomeid, and nobill Troylus, 

Am clene excludit, as abject odious? 



80 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



" fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow, 
And thy mother, of lufe the blind Goddes! 

Ye caufit me alwayis understand and trow 
The feid of lufe was fa win in my face, 
And ay grew grene throw your fupplie and grace. 

Bot now, allace! that feid with froift is flane. 

And I fra luiflferis left, and all forlane." 140 

Quhen this was faid, doun in ane extafie 

Eavifchit in fpreit, intill ane dreame fcho fell, 

And be apperance hard quhair fcho did ly 
Cupide the king ringand ane filver bell, 
Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell; 

At quhais found befoir Cupide appeiris 

The fevin Planetis difcending fra thair fpheiris, 

Quhilk hes power of all tiling generabill 
To reull and fleir be thair greit influence, 

Wedder and wind, and courfis variabill: 150 

And firfl of all Saturne gave his fentence, 
Quhilk gave to Cupide litill reverence, 

Bot as ane bufleous churle on his maneir. 

Come crabitlie with aufler luik and cheir. 

His face frofnit, his lyre was lyke the leid. 
His teith chatterit, and cheverit ^nth the chin, 

His ene drowpit, how, fonkin in his heid. 
Out of his nois the meldrop fail can rin. 
With lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin. 

The icefchoklis that fra his hair doun hang, 160 

Was wonder greit, and as ane fpeir als lang. 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 81 



Atouir his belt his lyart lokkis lav 

Felterit unfair, ovirfret with fc©iftis hoir, 

His garmound and his gyis full gay of gray, 
His widderit weid fta him the ^pnd out woir, 
Ane bulteous bow within his hail^he boir, 

Under his girdill ane flafche of felloun flanis, 

Fedderit with ice, and heidit with hailftanis. 

Than Juppiter rieht fair and amiabill, 

God of the flarnis in the firmament, 170 

And nureis to all thing generabill, 
Fra liis father Saturne far different, 
With burelie face, and browis bricht and brent, 

Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay 

Of flouris fair, as it had bene in May, 

His voice was cleir, as criitall wer his ene. 
As goldin wyre fa glitterand was his hair, 

His garmound and his gyis fuU gay of grene, 
With golden liftis gilt on everie gair, 
Ane burelie brand about his mid dill bair, 180 

In his right hand he had ane groundin fpeir, 

Of his father the wraith fra us to weir. 

Nixt efcer him come Mars the god of ire. 
Of strife, debait, and all diffenfioun, 

To chide and fecht, als feirs as ony fyre, 
In hard harnes, hewmound, and habirgeoun, 
And on his hanche ane rouftie fell fachioun, 

And in his hand he had ane rouftie fword, 

Wrytlnng his face, with mony angrie word. 
F 



82 THE TESTAMENT OP CRESSEID. 

Seliaikand his fword, befoir Cupide lie come 190 
With reid vifage, and griflie glowrand ene, 

And at his mouth ane bullar flude of fome, 
Lyke to ane bair quhetting his tufkis kene, 
Richt tuilyeour lyke, but temperance in tene, 

Ane home he blew with mony bofleous brag, 

Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag. 

Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht 
Of man and beifl, baith frute and flourifching, 

Tender nureis, and banifcher of nicht, 

And of the warld cauling be his moving 200 
And influence lyfe in all eirdlie thing, 

Without comfort of quhome, of force to nocht 

Mufl all ga die that in this warld is wrocht. 

As king royall he raid upon his chair. 

The quhilk Phaeton gydit fum tyme unricht. 

The brichtnefs of his face, quhen it was bair, 
Nane micht behald for peirfing of his ficht; 
This goldin cart with fyrie bemis bricht 

Four yokkit fleidis, full different of hew. 

But bait or tyring throw the fpheiris drew. 210 

The firfl was foyr, with mane als reid as rois, 

Callit Eoye in to the Orient; 
The fecund Iteid to name hecht Ethios, 

Quhitlie and paill, and fum deill afcendent ; 

The thrid Peros, right hait and richt fervent; 
The feird was blak, callit Phlegonie, 
Quhilk rollis Phebus down in to the fey. 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 83 



Venus was thair prefent, that goddes gay, 
Her fonnis querrel for to defend, and mak 

Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array, 220 
The ane half grene, the uther half fabill blak, 
Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and fched abak, 

Bot in hir face femit greit variance, 

Quhyles perfyte treuth, and quhyles inconflance. 

Under fmyling fcho was diffimulait, 
Provocative with blenkis amorous. 

And fuddanely changit and alterait, 
Angrie as ony ferpent vennemous, 
Richt pungitive with wordis odious : 

Thus variant fcho was, quha lift tak keip, 230 

With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip. 

In taikning that all flefchelie paramour 

Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance, 

Is fum tyme fweit, fum tyme bitter and four, 
Richt unftabill, and full of variance, 
Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plefance. 

Now hait, now cauld, now blyith, now full of wo, 

Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago. 

With buik in hand, than come Mercurius, 

Richt eloquent and full of rethorie, 240 

With polite termis, and delicious. 

With pen and ink to report all reddie, 
Setting fangis, and fingand merilie ; 

His hude was reid heklit atouir his croun 

Lyke to ane Poeit of the auld falToun. 



84 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



I 



Boxis he bair with fine electuairis, 

And fugerit fyropis for digellioun, m 

Spycis belangand to the pothecairis, 
With mony hailfum fweit confectioun, 
Doctour in phiiick eled in fkarlot goun, 250 

And furrit weill, as fie ane aiicht to be, 

Honefl and gude, and not ane word culd lie. 

Nixt efter him come Lady Cynthia, 

The laft of all, and fwifteft in hir fpheir. 

Of colour blak, bufkit with hornis twa, 
And in the nicht fcho liflis befl appeir, 
Haw as the leid, of colour na thing cleir; 

For all hir lieht fcho borrowis at hir brother 

Titan, for of hir felf fcho hes nane uther. 

Hir gyfe was gray, and full of fpottis blak, 260 
And on hir breifl ane churle paintit full evin, 

Beirand ane bunche of thornis on his bak, 

Quliilk for his thift micht dim na nar the hevin. 
Thus quhen thay gadderit war thir Goddis fevin, 

Mercurius they cheifit with ane affent. 

To be foir-fpeikar in the Parliament. 

Quha had bene thair, and lyking for to heir 

His facound toung, and termis exquifite. 
Of Rhetorick the prettick he micht leir. 

In breif fermone ane pregnant fentence wryte ; 270 

Befoir Cupide veiling his cap alyte, 
Speiris the caus of that vocatioun ? 
And he anone fchew his intentioun. 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 85 



" Lo ! (quod Cupide) quha will blafpheme the name 
Of his awin God, oiither in word or deid, 

To all Goddis he dois baith lak and fchame, 
And fuld have bitter panis to his meid; 
I fay this by yone wretchit CrelTeid, 

The quhilk throw me was fum tyme flour of lufe, 

Me and my mother flarklie can reprufe. 280 

" Saying, of hir greit infelicitie 

I was the cans, and my mother Venus, 

Ane blind Goddes hir eald that micht not fe. 
With fclander and defame injurious; 
Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous, 

Scho wald returne on me and my mother, 

To quhome I fehew my grace abone all uther. 

" And fen ye ar all fevin deificait. 

Participant of devyne fapience. 
This greit injurie done to our hie eflait, 290 

Me think with pane we fuld mak recom pence ; 

Was never to Goddes done fie violence, 
Afweill for vow, as for myfelf I fay, 
Thairfoir ga help to revenge, I yow pray." 

Mercurius to Cupide gave anfweir, 

And faid, " Schir King, my counfall is that ye 

Refer yow to the hieft planeit heir. 
And tak to him the laweft of degre. 
The pane of Crefleid for to modifie : 

As God Saturne, with him tak Cynthia." 300 

" I am content (quod he) to tak thay twa." 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Than thus proceidit Saturne and the Mone, 
Quhen thay the mater rypelie had degeft, 

For the difpyte to Cupide fcho had done, 
And to Yenus oppin and manifefl, 
In all hir lyfe with pane to be opprefl, 

And torment fair, with feiknes incurabill, 

And to all lovers be abhominabill. 

This dulefull fentenee Saturne tuik on hand, 
And paflit doun quhair cairfull Creffeid lay, 310 

And on hir heid he laid ane froflie wand, 
Than lawfullie on this wyfe can he fay; 
" Thy greit fairnes, and all thy bewtie gay, 

Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair, 

Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair: 

" I change thy mirth into melancholy, 
Quhilk is the mother of all peniivenes. 

Thy moillure and thy heit in cald and dry, 
Thyne infolenee, thy play and wantones 
To greit difeis, thy pomp and thy riches 320 

In mortall neid, and greit penuritie 

Thow fuffer fall, and as ane beggar die.*' 

cruell Saturne ! fraward and angrie, 
Hard is thy dome, and too malitious, 

On fair Creffeid quhy hes thow na mercie, 
Quhilk was fa fweit, gentill, and amorous ? 
Withdraw thy fentenee, and be gracious. 

As thow was never, fo fchawis thow thy deid, 

Ane wraikfull fentenee gevin on fair Creffeid. 



1 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 87 



Than Cynthia, quhen Saturne pall away, 330 

Out of hir fait difcendit down belyve. 

And red ane bill on CrefTeid quhair fcho lay, 
Contening this fentence diffinityve, 
" Fra heile of bodie I thee now deprive, 

And to thy feiknes fal be na recure, 

But in dolour thy dayis to indure. 

" Thy criflall ene minglit with blude I mak. 
Thy voice fa cleir unplefand hoir and hace, 

Thy lullie lyre ouirfpred with fpottis blak, 

And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face; 340 
Quhair thow cummis ilk man fall fle the place, 

This fall thow go begging fra hous to hous, 

With cop and clapper lyke ane lazarous.'* 

This doolie dreame, this uglye vifioun 
Brocht to ane end, CrelTeid fra it awoik, 

And all that court and convocatioun 

Vanifchit away, than rais fcho up and tuik 
Ane poleifl glas, and hir fchaddow culd luik; 

And quhen fcho faw hir face fa deformait, 

Gif fcho in hart was \va aneuch, God ^vait ! 3o0 

Weiping full fair, " Lo ! quliat it is (quod fche) 
With fraward langage for to mufe and ileir 

Our craibit Goddis, and fa is fene on me ! 
My blafpheming now have I bocht full deir. 
All eirdlie joy and mirth I fet areir. 

Allace this day! allace this wofuU tyde ! 

Quhen I began with my Goddis for to chyde!" 



88 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Be this was faid, ane chyld come fra the hall, 
To warne Creffeid the fupper was reddy ; 

Firll knokkit at the dure, and fyne ciild call, 360 
" Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy, 
He has mervell fa lang on grouf ye ly, 

And fayis. Your prayers bene too lang fum deill, 

The Goddis wait all your intent full weill." 

Quod fcho, " Fair chylde, ga to my father deir, 
And pray him cum to fpeik with me anone." 

A nd fa he did, and faid, " Douchter, quhat cheir V 
" Allace (quod fcho), father, my mirth is gone !" 
" How fa ?" quod he ; and fcho can all expone. 

As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wraik, 370 

For hir trefpas, Cupide on hir culd tak. 

He luikit on hir uglye Upper face, 

The quhilk befor was quhite as lillie flour, 

Wringand his handis oftymes, he faid, " Allace, 
That he had levit to fe that wofull hour V 
For he knew weill that thair was na fuccour 

To hir feiknes, and that dowblit his pane; 

Thus was thair cair aneuch betuix thame twane. 

Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang. 

Quod Crefl'eid, " Father, I wald not be kend, 380 

Thairfoir in fecreit wyfe ye let me gang, 
Unto yone Hofpitall at the tounis end; 
And thidder fum meit for cheritie me fend. 

To leif upon, for all mirth in this eird 

Is fra me gane, fie is my wickit weird." 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 89 



Than in ane mantill, and aue bavav hat, 
With cop and clapper, wonder prively 

He opnit ane fecreit yett, and out thairat 
Convoyit hir, that na man fuld efpy, 
Unto ane village half ane myle thairby, 390 

Delyverit hir in at the Spittaill hous, 

And daylie fent hir part of his almous. 

Sum knew hir weill, and fum had na knawledge 
Of hir, bccaus fcho was fa deformait 

With bylis blak ovirfpred in hir vifage, 
And hir fair colour faidit and alterait ; 
Yit thay prefurait for hir hie regrait, 

And ftill murning, fcho was of nobill kin. 

With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in. 

The day paflSt, and Phebus went to refl, 400 
The cloudis blak ovirquhelmit all the fky, 

God wait gif Creffeid was ane forrowfull gefl, 
Seeing that uncouth fair and berbery ; 
But meit or drink fcho dreffit hir to ly 

In ane dark corner of the hous allone. 

And on this wyfe, weiping, fcho maid hir mone. 



THE COMPLAINT OF CRESSEID. 

" Sop of forrow fonken into cair! 
0, cative Creffeid! now and ever mair, 

Gane is thy joy, and all thy mirth in eird, 



90 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Of all blyithnes now art thou blaiknit bair. 410 
Thair is na falve may faif thee of thy fair ! 
Fell is thy fortoun, wickit is thy weird. 
Thy blys is baneift, and thy baill on breird, 
Under the eirth Grod gif I gravin wer, 

Quhair nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird ! 

" Quhair is thy chalmer wantounlie befene, 
With burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene, 

Spycis and wyne to thy coUatioun, 
The cowpis all of gold and filver fchene, 
The fweit meitis fervit in plaittis clene, 420 

With faipheron fals of ane gud feffoun : 

Thy gay garmentis with mony gudely goun, 
Thy plefand lawn pinnit with goldin prene : 

All is areir, thy greit royall renoun ! 

" Quhair is thy garding with thir greiffis gay, 
And frefche flowris, quhilk the Queue Floray 

Had paintit plefandly in everie pane, 
Quhair thou was wont full merilye in May 
To walk, and tak the dew be it was day. 

And heir the merle and mavis mony ane, 430 

With ladyis fair in carroUing to gane. 
And fe the royal rinks in thair array. 

In garmentis gay, garnifchit on everie grane. 

" Thy greit triumphand fame and hie honour, 
Quhair thou was eallit of eirdlye wichtis flour ; 

All is deeayit, thy weird is welterit fo, 
Thy hie eflait is turnit in darknes dour! 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 91 



This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour, 
And for thy bed tak now ane bunche of flro, 
For waillit wyne, and meitis thou had tho, 440 

Tak mowlit breid, peirrie, and ceder four; 
Bot cop and clapper now is all ago. 

" My cleir voice, and courtlie carrolling, 
Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to fing, 

Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous hoir and hace; 
My plefand port all utheris precelling, 
Of luftines I was hald maifl conding, 

Now is deformit, the figour of my face 

To luik on it na leid now lyking hes : 
Sowpit in fyte, I fay with fair fiching, 450 

Ludgeit amang the lipper leid, allace ! 

" O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece attend, 
My miferie, quhilk nane may comprehend, 

My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie, 
My greit mifchief, quhilk na man can amend ; 
Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end. 

And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me ; 

As I am now, peradventure that ye. 
For all your micht, may cum to that fame end. 

Or ellis war, gif ony war may be. 460 

" Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour, 
Nocht is your famous laud and hie honour, 

Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris. 
Your roifing reid to rotting fall retour : 



92 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Exempill mak of me in your memour, 
Quhilk of fie thingis wofuU witnes beiris, 
All welth in eird away as wind it weiris : 

Be war, thairfoir, approchis neir the hour; 

Fortoun is fikkill, quhen fcho beginnis and 
fleiris/' 



Thus chydand with her drerie deftenye, 470 

Weiping, fcho woik the nicht fra end to end, 

Bot all in vane, hir dule, hir cairfuU cry, 

Micht not remeid, nor yit hir murning mend. 
Ane Upper lady rais, and till hir wend. 

And faid, " Quhy fpurnis thow aganis the wall, 

To fla thyfelf, and mend na thing at all ? 

*' Sen thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo, 
I eounfall thee mak vertew of ane neid ; 

To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro, 

And leir efter the law of lipper leid." 480 

Thair was na buit, bot furth with thame fcho yeid 

Fra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger fair 

Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair. 

That famin tyme of Troy the garnifoun, 
Quhilk had to chiftane worthie Troylus, 

Throw jeopardie of weir had flrikken down 
Knichtis of Grece in number mervellous, 
With greit tryumphe, and laude victorious, 

Agane to Troy richt royallie they raid, 

The way quhair Creffeid with the lipper baid. 490 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 93 



Seing that eompanie thai come all with ane (levin, 
Thay gaif ane cry, and fchuik coppis gude fpeid. 

Said, " Worthie lordis, for Groddis lufe of Hevin, 
To us lipper part of your almous deid." 
Than to thair cry nobill Troylus tuik heid. 

Having pietie, neir by the place can pas, 

Quhair Creffeid fat, not witting quhat fcho was. 

Than upon him fcho keft up baith her ene, 
And with ane blenk it come in to his thocht, 

That he fum tyme hir face befoir had fene, 500 
Bot fcho was in lie plye he knew hir nocht; 
Yit than hir luik into his mynd it brocht 

The fweit vifage, and amorous blenking 

Of fair Creffeid, fumtyme his awin darling. 

Na wonder was, fuppois in mynd that he 
Tuik hir figure fa fone, and lo ! now quhy ? 

The idole of ane thing in cace may be 
Sa deip imprentit in the fantafy, 
That it deludis the wittis outwardly. 

And fa appeiris in forme and lyke eflait 510 

Within the mynd, as it was figurait. 

Ane fpark of lufe than till his hart culd fpring. 
And kendlit all his bodie in ane fyre 

With halt fevir ane fweit and trimbilling 
Him tuik, quhill he was reddie to expyre; 
To beir his fcheild, his breifl began to tyre; 

Within ane quhyle he changit mony hew, 

And nevertheles not ane ane uther knew. 



94 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



For knichtlie pietie and memoriall 

Of fair Creffeid, ane gyrdill can he tak. 520 

Ane purs of gold, and mony gay jo wall, 

And in the fkirt of Creffeid doun can fwak : 
Than raid away, and not ane word he fpak. 

Penfive in hart, quhill he come to the toun. 

And for greit cair oft fyis almaifl fell doun. 

The lipper folk to Creffeid than can draw. 
To fe the equall diflributioun 

Of the almous, but quhan the gold they faw, 
Ilk ane to uther prevelie can roun, 
And faid, " Yone Lord hes mair affectioun, 530 

How ever it be, unto yone lazarous, 

Than to us all; we knaw be his almous." 

" Quhat lord is yone (quod fcho) have ye na feill, 
Hes done to us fo greit humanitie?" 

" Yes (quod a lipper man), I knaw him weill : 
Schir Troylus it is, gentill and fre." 
Quhen Creffeid underftude that it was he, 

Stiffer than lleill thair llert ane bitter Hound 

Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground. 



I 



Quhen fcho, ovircome with fichiug fair and fad, 540 
With mony cairfuU cry and cald " Ochane ! 

Now is my breift with flormie floundis Had, 
Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane." 
Than fwounit fcho oft or fcho culd refrane. 

And ever in hir fwouning cryit fcho thus : — 

" O, fals Creffeid ! and trew knicht Troylus ! 



THE TESTAMENT OP CRESSEID. 95 



" Thy lufe, thy lawtie, and thy gentilnes, 
I countit fmall in my profperitie; 

Sa elevait I was in wantones, 

And clam upon the fickill quheill fa hie, 550 
All faith and lufe, I promiffit to the, 

Was in the felf fickill and frivolous : 

O, fals Creffeid! and trew kniclit Troylus! 

" For lufe of me thow keipt gude countenence, 

Hon eft and chaifl in converfatioun, 
Of all wemen protectour and defence 

Thou was, and helpit thair opinioun; 

My mynd in flefchelie foull aiFectioun 
Was inclynit to luflis lecherous: 
Fy, fals Creffeid! O, trew knicht Troylus! 560 

" Lovers be war, and tak gude heid about 

Quhome that ye lufe, for quhome ye fuffer paine, 

I lat you wit, thair is richt few thairout 

Quhome ye may traift to have trew lufe againe : 
Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine, 

Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find, 

For thay ar fad as widdercock in wind. 

" Becaus I knaw the greit unftabilnes 
Brukkill as glas, into my felf I fay, 

Traifting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes, 570 
Als unconflant, and als untrew of fay : 
Thocht fum be trew, I wait richt few are thay, 

Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady rufe, 

Nane but myfelf, as now, I will accufe." 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 



Quhen this was faid, with paper fcho fat doun, 
And on this maneir maid hir Testament : 

" Heir I beteiche my corps and carioun 
With wormis and with taidis to be rent; 
My cop and clapper, and myne ornament, 

And all my gold, the lipper folk fall have, 580 

Quhen I am deid, to burie me in grave. 

" This royall ring, fet with this rubie reid, 
Quhilk Troylus in drowrie to me fend. 

To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid. 
To mak my cairfuU deid unto him kend : 
Thus I conclude fchortlie, and mak ane end ; 

My fpreit I leif to Diane, quhair fcho dwellis. 

To walk with hir in waifl woddis and wellis. 

*' O, Diomeid ! thou hes baith broche and belt, 
Quhilk Troylus gave me in takning 590 

Of his trew lufe." — And with that word fcho fwelt ; 
And fone ane lipper man tuik of the ring, 
Syne buryit hir withouttin tarying: 

To Troylus forthwith the ring he bair. 

And of Creffeid the deith he can declair. 

Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitie, 
Hir legacie and lamentatioun. 

And how fcho endit in fie povertie. 

He fwelt for wo, and fell doun in ane fwoun, 
For greit forrow his hart to birfl was boun : 600 

Siching full fadlie, faid, " I can no moir, 

Scho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!" 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 97 



Sum faid he maid ane tomb of merbell gray, 
And wrait hir name and fuperfcriptioun, 

And laid it on hir grave, quhair that fcho lay, 
In goldin letteris, conteining this reiToun: 
" Lo, fair lady is, Creffeid of Troyis toun, 

Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid, 

Under this flane, late lipper, lyis deid!" 

Now, worthie Wemen, in this ballet fchort, 610 
Made for your worfchip and inftructioun. 

Of cheritie I monifche and exhort, 

Ming not your lufe with fals deceptioun; 
Beir in your mynd this fchort conclufioun 

Of fair Crefleid, as I have faid befoir: 

Sen fcho is deid, I fpeik of hir no moir. 



THE MORAL FABLES OF ^SOP 
IN SCOTTISH METRE. 



Lcf 



THE PKOLOaUE 



Thocht fenyeit Fabillis of auld Poetrie, 
Be nocht all groundit upon treuth, yit than 

Thair polite termis of fweit Rhetorie, 
Ar richt plefand unto the eir of man ; 
And als the caus that thay firfl began, 

Wes to repreif the haill milleving 

Of man, be figure of ane uther thing. 

In lyke maner, as throw the bufteous eird, 
(Swa it be laubourit with greit diligence) 

Springis the flouris, and the corne on breird, 10 
HaiKum and gude to mannis fuflenance: 
Swa fpringis thair ane morall fweit fentence 

Out of the fubtell dyte of Poetrie, 

To gude purpois, quha culd it weill applie. 

The nuttis fchell thocht it be hard and teuch, 
Haldis the kirnell, and is delectabill. 

Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyfe aneuch, 
And full of frute, under ane fenyeit fabill. 
And clerkis fayis, it is richt profitabill, 

Amangis ernifb to myng ane merie fport, 20 

To blyth the fpreit, and gar the tyme be fchort. 



102 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



For as we fe, ane bow that is ay bent, 
Worthis unfmart, and duUis on the firing. 

Sa gais the man, that is ay diligent 
In erniftfuU thochtis, and in fludying : 
With fad materis fum merines to myng, 

Accordis weill, thus Efope faid, I wis, 

Dulcius arrident feria picta jocis. 

Of this Author, my maifleris, with your leif, 
Submitting me in your eorrectioun, 30 

In Mother toung of Latyne I wald preif 
To mak ane maner of tranflatioun; 
Nocht of my felf, for vane prefuraptioun, 

Bot be requeifl, and precept of ane Lord, 

Of quhome the name it neidis nocht record. 

In hamelie language and in termis rude, 
Me neidis wryte; for quhy, of eloquence 

Nor rethorike I never underflude ; 

Thairfoir meiklie I pray your reverence, 

Gif that ye find ocht throw my negligence, 40 

Be diminute, or yit fuperfluous. 

Correct it at your willis gratious. 

My Author in his Fabillis tellis how. 
That brutall Beillis fpak and underflude. 

And to gude purpois difpute, and argow, 
Ane fyllogifme propone, and eik conclude; 
Putting exempill, and fimilitude. 

How mony men in operatioun, 

Ar lyke to beiflis in conditioun. 



THE PROLOGUK. 103 



Na mervell is, ane man be lyke ane beifl, 50 
Quhilk luffis ay carnall and foull delyte, 

That fchame can nocht him renye, nor arreifl; 
Bot takis all the lufl and appetyte, 
And that throw cuflum, and the daylie ryte 

Syne in thair myndis fa fall is radicate, 

That thay in brutall beillis are transformate. 

This nobill clerk, Efope, as I half tauld, 
In gay meter, as Poet Lawriate, 

Be figure wrait his buke: for he nocht wald 
Lak the wifdome of hie, nor law eflait. 60 
And to begyn, firfl of ane Cok he wrait, 

Seikand his meit, quhilk fand aiie jolie flone. 

Of quhome the Fabill ye fall heir anone. 



THE TAILL OF THE COCK AND 
THE JASP. 



Ane Cok, fumtyme with feddrame frefche and gay, 
Richt cant and crous, albeit he was hot pure, 

Flew furth upon ane dounghill fone be day, 
To get his dennar fett wes all his cure; 
Scraipand amang the afs, be aventure 

He fand ane jolie Jafp, richt precious, 

Wes caflin furth in fweping of the hous. 

As damyfellis wantoun, and infolent. 

That fane wald play, and on the flreit be fene. 
To fvv oping of the hous thay tak na tent; 10 

Thay cair na thing, fwa that the flure be clene. 

Jowellis ar tint, as oftymis lies bene fene, 
Upon the flure, and fwopit furth anone — 
Perad venture, fa wes the famin flone. 

Sa mervelland upon the flane, quod he, 

" O gentill Jafp ! riche and nobill thing : 

Thocht I thee find, thow ganis nocht for me! 
Thow art ane jo well for ane lord, or king. 
Pietie it wer, thow fould ly in this midding, 

And buryit be thus in this muke and mold, 20 

And thow fo fair, and worth fa mekill gold. 



THE COCK AND THE JASP. 105 



"It is pietie I fuld thee find, for quhy, 
Thy greit vertew, nor yit thy cullour cleir, 

It may me nouther extoll, nor magnifie : 
And thow to me may mak bot lytill eheir. 
To greit Lordis thocht thow be leifF and deir, 

I lufe fer better thing of lefs availl, 

As draf, or corne, to fill my tume intraill. 

" I had lever haif fcraipit with my naillis 

Amangis this mow, and luke my lyfis fude, 30 

As draf, or corne, fmall wormis, or fnaillis, 
Or ony meit wald do my llomak gude : 
Than of Jafpis ane mekill multitude. 

And thow agane, upon the famyn wyis, 

For thyne availl may me as well defpyis. 

" Thow hes na corne, and thairof haif I neid ; 

Thy cullour dois bot confort to the ficht, 
And that is nocht aneuch my wame to feid; 

For wyfis fayis, luikand werkis ar licht. 

I wald haif fum meit, get it gif I micht; 40 
For houngrie men may nocht leif on luikis : 
Had I dry breid, I compt nocht for na cuikis. 

" Quhar fuld thow mak thy habitatioun ? 

Quhar fuld thow dwell, bot in ane royall tour ? 
Quhar fuld thow fit, bot on ane kingis croun, 

Exaltit in worfchip and greit honour? 

Ryfe gentill Jafp, of all flianis the flour, 
Out of this midding, and pafs quhar thow fuld be, 
Thow ganis nocht for me, nor I for thee." 



106 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Levand tliis jo well law upon the ground, 50 

To feik his meit this Cok his wayis went; 

Bot quhen, or how, or quhome be it wes found, 
As now I fet to hald na argument: 
Bot of the inward fentence and intent 

Of this Fable, as myne Author dois wryte, 

I fal reheirs in rude and hamelie dyte. 



MORALITA^. 

This jolie Jafp had properteis fevin: 
The firfl, of cuUour it wes mervelous; 

Part lyke the fyre, and part lyke to the hevin, 
It makis ane man Hark and victorious ; 60 

Prefervis als fra caiffis perrillous : 

Quha hes this flane, fall haif gude hoip to fpeid. 

Or fyre, nor watter him neidis nocht to dreid. 

This gentill Jafp, richt different of hew, 
Betakinnis perfite prudence and cunning; 

Ornate with mony deidis of vertew, 
Mair excellent than ony eirthlie thing; 
Quhilk makis men in honour for to ring, 

Happie, and flark to wyn the victorie 

Of all vycis, and fpirituall ennemie. 70 

Quha may be hardie, riche, and gratious? 

Quha can efchew perrell and aventure? 
Quha can governe in ane realme, citie, or hous 

Without fcience? over all thing I yow affure, 



THE COCK AND THE JASP. 107 



It is riches that ever fall indure ; 
Quhilk moith, nor moyll, nor uther ruft can freit, 
To mannis faull it is eternall meit. 

This Cok defyrand mair the fempill corne 
Than ony Jafp, may till ane fule be peir, 

Quhilk at fcience makis bot ane mock and fcorne, 80 
And na gude can, als lytill will he leir; 
His hart wammillis wyfe argumentis to heir, 

As dois ane fow, to quhome men for the nonis 

In hir draff troich wald faw the precious llonis. 

Quha is ennemie to fcience and cunning, 
Bot ignorantis that underflandis nocht ? 

Quhilk is fa nobill, fa precious, and fa ding, 
That it may nocht with eirdlie thing be bocht. 
Weill war that man over all uther, that mocht 

All his lyfe dayis in perfite fludie wair, 90 

To get fcience; for him neidis na mair. 

Bot now, allace! fcience is tint and hid; 

We feik it nocht, nor preis it for to find : 
Haif we riches, na better lyfe we bid, 

Of fcience thocht the faull be bair and blind. 

Of this mater to fpeik, I wair bot wind, 
Thairfoir I ceis, and will na forther fay. 
Ga feik the Jafp quha will, for thair it lay. 



THE TAILL OF THE UPLANDIS MOUS 
AND THE BUEOES MOUS. 



EsoPE, myne Author, makis mentioun 
Of twa Myis, and thay wer fifleris deir, 

Of quham the eldefl dwelt in ane Borrowis toun, 
The uther wynnit Uponland, weill neir; 
Eycht folitar, quhyles under busk and breir, 

Quhylis in the corne, and uther mennis fkaith, 

As outlawis dois and levis on thair waith. 

Tliis rurall Mous in to the wynter tyde, 

Had hunger, cauld, and tholit greit diftrefs ; 

The uther Mous that in the burgh can byde, 10 
Wes gild-brother and maid ane free burgefs : 
Toll fre als, but cuflum mair or lefs, 

And fredome had to ga quhair ever fcho lift, 

Amang the cheis in ark, and meill in kift. 

Ane tyme quhen fcho wes full and unfute fair, 
Scho tuke in mynde hir lifter uponland, 

And langit for to heir of hir weilfair 

To fe quhat lyfe fcho had under the wand : 
Bairfute allone, with pykeftalf in hir hand. 

As pure pilgryme fcho paiBt out of toun, 20 

To feik hir fifter baith over daill and doun. 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE BURGES MOUS. 109 



Furth mony wilfum wayis can fcho walk, 

Throw moffe and muir, throw bankis, bufk and 
breir, 

Scho ranne cryand, quhill fcho cam to ane balk, 
" Cum furth to me my awin fitter deir ; 
Cry peip anis :" With that the Mous culd heir, 

And knew her voce, as kinnifman will do, 

Be verray kynd, and furth fcho come hir to. 

The hartlie joy, Lord God! gif ye had fene. 
Was kithit quhen that thir twa fifleris met; 30 

And greit kyndenes was fchawin thame betuene. 
For quhylis thay leuch, and quhylis for joy thay 

gret, 
Quhylis kiffit fweit, and quhylis in armis plet; 

And thus thay fure quhill foberit wes thair made. 

Syne fute for fute unto the chalmer yude. 

As I hard fay, it was ane fober wane, 
Of fog and fairn full febillie wes maid, 

Ane fillie fcheill under ane fleidfafl flane, 

Of quhilk the entres wes nocht hie nor braid ; 

And in the famyn thay went but mair 

abaid, 40 

Withoutin fyre or candill birnand bricht. 

For commounlie fie pykeris lufRs not licht. 

Quhen thay wer lugit thus thir felie Myfe, 

The youngefi) fiflier unto hir butterie yeid. 
And brocht furth nuttis and peis in Head of fpyee : 



110 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Gif this wes gude fair I do it on thame befyde. 

The burges Mous prompit furth in pryde, 
And faid, " Sifter, is this your daylie fude ?" 
" Quhy not," quod fcho, " is nocht this meit rycht 

gude r 

" Na, be my fauU, I think it bot ane fcorne." 50 
" Madame,'' quod fcho, " ye be the mair to blame ; 

My mother faid, iifler, quhen we wer borne, 
That ye and I lay baith within ane wame: 
I keip the rate and cuftume of my dame, 

And of my leving in to povertie. 

For landis haif we nane in propertie." 

" My fair fifler," quod fcho, " haif me excufit, 
This rude dyet and I can nocht accord; 

Till tender meit my flomok is ay ufit, 

For quhylis I fair alfweill as ony Lord : 60 
Thir widderit peis, and nuttis or thay be bord, 

Will brek my teith, d"nd mak my wame full 
fklender, 

Quhilk wes befoir ufit to meittis tender." 

" Weill, Weill, fifter," quod the rurall Mous, 
" Grif it pleis yow, fie thingis as ye fe heir, 

Baith meit and drink, harberie and hous, 
Salbe your awin, will ye remane all yeir. 
Ye fall it haif with blyith and merie cheir. 

And that fuld mak the maiffis that ar rude, 

Amang freindis richt tender and wonder gude. 70 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE BURGES MOUS. Ill 



'• Quhat plefure is in feiflis delicate, 

The quhilkis ar geviii with ane glowmand brow ? 

Ane gentill hart is better recreat 

With blyith curage than feith till him ane kow : 
Ane modicum is mair for till allow, 

Swa that gude will be kerver at the dais. 

Than thrawin vult and mony fpycit mais. 

For all hir merie exhortatioun, 

This burges Mous had lytill will to fing, 
Bot hevilie fcho keft hir browis doun, 80 

For all the daynteis that fcho culd hir bring. 

Yit at the lafl fcho faid, half in hething; 
" Sister, this victuall and your royall feifl. 
May Weill fuffice unto ane rurall beifl. 

" Lat be this hole, and cum in to my place, 

I fall to yow fchaw be experience. 
My Gude Fryday is better nor your Pace ; 

My difche wefchingis is worth your haill expence ; 

I half houfis anew of greit defence; 
Of cat, nor fall trap, I haif na dreid." 90 

" I grant," quod fcho ; and on togidder thay yeid. 

In ftubbill array throw rankeft gers and corne. 
And under bufkis prevelie couth they creip, 

The eldefl wes the gyde and went beforne, 
The younger to hir wayis tuke gude keip. 
On nicht thay ran, and on the day can lleip; 

Quhill in the morning or the Laverock fang, 

Thay fand the toun, and in blythlie couth gang. 



112 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Nocht fer fra thyne unto ane worthie wane, 
This burges brocht thame fone quhar thai fuld 
be ; 100 

Without God fpeid thair herberie wes tane, 
In to ane fpence with vittell greit plentie; 
Baith cheis and butter upone thair fkelfis hie, 

And flefche and fifche aneuch, baith frefche and fait. 

And fekkis full of meill and eik of malt. 

Efter quhen thay difpofit wer to dyne, 

Withouttin grace thay wefehe and went to meit. 

With all the courfis that cuikis culd defyne, 
Muttoun and beif llrikin in tailyeis greit; 
And Lordis fair thus couth thay counterfeit, 110 

Except ane thing, thay drank the watter cleir 

Inflead of wyne, bot yit thay maid gude cheir. 

With blyith upcaft and merie countenance, 

The eldeft filler fperit at hir gaifl, 
Gif that fcho be reffone fand difference 

Betuix that chalmer and hir farie nell? 

" Ye dame," quod fcho, " How lang will this left ?" 
" For evermair, I wait, and langer to." 
" Gif it be fwa, ye are at eis," quod fcho. 

Til eik thair cheir ane fubcharge furth fcho 
brocht, 120 

Ane plait of grottis, and ane difche full of meill, 
Thraf caikkis als I trow fcho fpairit nocht, 

Aboundantlie about hir for to deill ; 

And mane full fyne fcho brocht in fteid of goill. 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE BURGES MOUS. 113 



And ane quhyte candill out of ane coffer flail, 
In fleid of fpyce to gufl thair mouth withall. 

Thus maid thay merie quhill thay micht na mair, 
And, Haill Yule, haill! cryit upon hie; 

Yit efter joy oftymes cummis cair. 

And troubill efter greit profperitie: 130 

Thus as thay fat in all thair jolitie. 

The Spenfer come with keyis in his hand, 

Opinnit the dure, and thame at denner fand. 

Thay taryit nocht to wefche as I fuppofe, 
But on to ga quha that micht formefl win. 

The burges had ane hoill, and in fcho gois, 
Hir fifler had na hoill to hyde hir in, 
To fe that felie Mous, it wes greit fyn. 

So defolate and will of ane gude reid. 

For veray dreid fcho fell in fwoun neir deid. 140 

Bot as God wald, it fell ane happy cace 
The Spenfer had na lafer for to byde, 

Nouther to feik nor ferche, to fkar nor chace, 
Bot on he went, and left the dure up wyde. 
The bald burges his pafTmg weill hes fpyde, 

Out of hir hoill fcho come, and cryit on hie, 

" How fair ye lifter; cry Peip, quhair ever ye be?" 

This rural Mous lay flatling on the ground. 
And for the deith fcho wes full fair dredand, 

For till hir hart ftraik mony wofuU flound, 150 
As in ane fever fcho trimbiUit fute and hand; 

H 



114 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



And quhan hir filler in fie ply hir fand, 
For verray pietie feho began to greit, 
Syne confort hir with wordis hunny fweit. 

" Quhy ly ye thus? ryfe up my fifiier deir: 
Cum to your meit, this perrell is overpafl;." 

The uther anfwerit hir, with hevie cheir, 
" I may nocht eit, fa fair I am agafli; 
I had levir thir fourtie dayis fafl;, 

With watter caill, and to gnaw benis or peis, 160 

Than all your feifl;, in this dreid and difeis." 

With fair tretie yit fcho gart hir upryfe, 

And to the burde thay went and togidder fat, 

And fcantlie had thay drunkin anis or twyfe, 
Quhen in come Gib-Hunter our jolie cat. 
And bad God fpeid: the burges uj) with that, 

And till the hoill fcho went as fyi*e of flint — 

Bawdronis the uther be the bak hes hint. 

Fra fute to fute he kefl; hir to and fra, 

Quhy lis up, quhy lis doun, als cant as ony kid ; 170 

Quhylis wald he lat hir run under the ftra, 
QuhyKs wald he wink, and play with hir buk- 

hid. 
Thus to the felie Mous greit pane he did, 

Quhill at the lafl;, throw fortune and gude hap, 

Betuix ane burde and the w^all fcho crap. 

And up in haifl; behind ane parralling 

Scho clam fo hie, that Gilbert micht not get hir, 



I 
I 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE BURGES MOUS. 115 



Syne be the cluke thair craftelie can hing, 
Till he wes gane, hir cheir wes all the bettir ; 
Syne doun fcho lap quhen thair wes nane to 
let hir, 180 

And to the burges Mous loud can fcho cry, 
" Fair Weill, fifler, thy feift heir I defy ! 

" Thy mangerie is myngit all with cair, 
Thy gufe is gude, thy ganfell four as gall : 

The fubcharge of thy fervice is bot fair, 
So fall thow find heir efterwart may fall. 
I thank yone courtyne and yone perpall wall, 

Of my defence now fra ane crewell beift. 

Almychty God keip me fra lie ane feifl ! 

" Wer I in to the kith that I come fra, 190 

For Weill nor wo, fuld never cum agane." 

With that fcho tuke hir leif and furth can ga, 
Quhylis throw the corne, and quhylis throw the 

plane, 
Quhen fcho wes furth and fre fcho wes ful fane, 

And merilie merkit unto the mure : 

I can nocht tell how efterwart fcho fure. 

Bot I hard fay, fcho paffit to hir den, 

Als warme als woll, fuppofe it wes nocht greit. 

Full benely fluffit, baith but and ben, 

Of beinis, and nuttis, pels, ry, and quheit ; 200 
Quhen ever fcho lift fcho had aneuch to eit, 

In quyet and eis, withoutin ony dreid, 

Bot to hir fifteris feift na mair fcho yeid. 



116 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



MOEALITAS. 



Freindis ye may fynd, and ye will tak held, 

In to this Fabill ane gude moralitie, 
As fitchis myngit ar with nobill feid, 

Swa intermynglit is adverfitie 

"With eirthlie joy, fwa that na eflait is fre, 
And als troubill, and fum vexatioun ; 

And namelie thay quhilk climmis up maifl 
hie, 210 

That ar nocht content with fmall poffeffioun. 

Bliffit be fempill lyfe withoutin dreid ; 

Bliffit be fober feift in quyetie: 
Quha hes aneuch, of na mair hes he neid, 

Thocht it be lytill in to quantitie; 

Greit abondance, and blind profperitie, 
Oftymes makis ane evill conclufioun ; 

The fweiteft lyfe thairfoir in this cuntrie. 
Is fickernes, with fmall poffeffioun. 

wantoun man! that ufis for to feid 220 

Thy wambe, and makis it ane god to be, 

Luik to thy felf, I wame thee wele, but dreid ; 
The Cat cummis, and to the Mous hes ee, 
Quhat vaillis than thy feift and rialtie. 

With dreidfuU hart and tribulacioun ! 

Thairfoir befl thing in eird, I fay, for me, 

Is blyithnes in hart, with fmall poffeffioun. 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE SURGES MOUS. 117 



Thy awin fyre, my freiud, fa it be bot ane gleid, 
It warmis weill, and is worth gold to thee; 

And Solomon fayis, gif that thow will reid, 230 
" Under the hevin it can nocht better be, 
Than ay be blyith, and leif in honeflie;" 

Quhairfoir I may conclude be this reffoun, 
Of eirthly joy it beiris maill degrie, 

BIyithnes in hart, with fmall poffeflioun. 



THE TAILL OF SCHIR CHANTECLEIR 
AND THE FOXE. 



Thocht brutall beiflis be irrationall, 
That is to fay, wantand difcretioun ; 

Yit ilk ane in thair kynde natural!, 
Hes mony divers inclinatioun ; 
The bair bufleous, the wolf, the wylde lyoun : 

The foxe feinyeit, craftie and cautelous; 

The dog to bark on nicht and keip the hous. 

Sa different thay ar in properteis, 
Unknawin to man, and fa infinite. 

In kynd havand fa feil diverfiteis, 10 

My cunning is exeludit for to dyte: 
Forthy as now I purpofe for to wryte, 

Ane cais I fand quhilk fell this other yeir, 

Betuix ane Foxe, and ane gentill Chantecleir. 

Ane Wedow dwelt, in till ane dorp thay dayis, 
Quhilk wan hir fude of fpinning on hir rok ; 

And na mair had forfuth, as the Fabill fayis, 
Except of hennis fcho had ane lytill flok, 
And thame to keip fcho had ane jolie Cok : 

Richt curageous, that to this Wedow ay, 20 

Devydit nicht, and crew befoir the day. 



SCHIR CHANTECLEIR AND THE FOXE. 119 



Ane lytill fra this foirfaid Wedowis hous, 

Ane thornie fchaw thair wes of greit defence, 

Quhairin ane Foxe, craftie and eautelous, 
Maid his repair, and daylie refidence, 
Quhilk to this wedow did greit violence. 

In pyking of pultrie baith day and nicht, 

And na way be revengit on him fcho micht. 

This wylie Tod quhen that the lark couth ling, 
Full fair hungrie unto the toun him drell, 30 

Quhair Chantecleir in to the gray dawing, 
Werie for nicht, wes flowin fra his nell: 
Lowrence this faw, and in his mynd he keft 

The jeperdie, the wayis, and the wyle, 

Be quhat meinis he micht this Cok begyle. 

Diffimuland in to countenance and cheir. 
On kneis fell, and iimuland this faid : 

" Gude morne, my maifter, gentill Chantecleir." 
With that the Cok ftart backwart in ane braid. 
" Schir, be my fauU, ye neid nocht be effrayit, 

Nor yit for me to flart nor fle abak : [40 

I come bot heir fervice to yow to mak. 

" Wald I nocht ferve to yow it wer bot blame, 
As I haif done to your progenitouris. 

Your father full oft fillit hes my wame, 

And fend me meit fra midding to the muris. 
And at his end I did my befie curis, 

To hald his held, and gif him drinkis warme; 

Syne at the laft, the fweit fwelt in my arme." 



120 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Knew ye my father ?" quod the Cok, and leuch. 50 
" Yea, my fair fone, I held up his heid, 

Quhen that he deit under ane birkin beuch ; 
Syne faid the Dirige quhen that he wes deid, 
Betuix us twa how fuld thair be ane feid? 

Quhame fuld ye traift bot me your fervitour, 

That to your father did fa greit honour, 

" Quhen I behald your fedderis fair and gent, 
Your beik. your breift, your hekill, and your came, 

Schir, be my fauU, and the bliffit facrament, 
My hart is warme, me think I am at hame. 60 
To mak yow blyith, I wald creip on my w^ame 

In froifl and fnaw, in wedder wan and weit, 

And lay my lyart lokkis under your feit." 

This fenyeit Foxe, fals and diffimulate. 
Maid to this Cok ane cavillatioun : 

"Ye ar, me think, changit and degenerate 
Fra your father of his conditioun ; 
Of craftie crawing he raicht beir the croun, 

For he wald on his tais ftand and craw : 

This wes na lee, I flude befyde and faw." 70 

With that the Cok upon his tais hie, 

Keft up his beik, and fang with all his micht. 

Quod Schir Lowrence, " Weill faid ; fa mot I thee : 
Ye ar your fatheris fone and air upricht, 
Bot of his cunning yit ye want ane flicht ; 

For," quod the Tod, " he wald, and haif na dout, 

Baith wink and craw and turne him thryis about." 



SCHIR CHANTECLEIR AND THE FOXE. 121 



The Cok, infect with wind and fals vanegloir, 
That mony puttis unto confufioun, 

Training to win ane greit worfchip thairfoir, 80 
Unwarlie winkand wawland up and doun, 
And fyne to chant and craw he maid him boun. 

And fuddandlie be he had crawin ane note, 

The Foxe wes war, and hint him be the throte. 

Syne to the wode bot tarie with him hyit, 
Of that cryme haifand bot lytill dout ; 

With that Pertok, Sprutok, and Toppok cryit ; 
The Wedow heard, and with ane cry come out. 
Seand the cace fcho lichit, and gaif ane fchout, 

" How, murther, hay !" with ane hiddeous beir, 90 

" Allace ! now loft is gentill Chantecleir." 

As fcho wer woid, with mony yell and cry, 
Ryvand hir hair, upon hir breift can beit. 

Syne paill of hew half in ane extafie. 

Fell doun for cair in fvvoning, and in fvveit. 
With that the felie hennis left thair meit, 

And quhill this wyfe wes lyand thus in fwoun. 

Fell ill that cace in difputatioun. 

" Allace!" quod Pertok, makand fair murning. 
With teiris greit attour hir cheikis fell, 100 

" Yone wes our drowrie, and our dayis darling. 
Our nichtingaill, and als our orlege bell; 
Our walkryfe watche us for to warne and tell 

Quhen that Aurora, with hir curcheis gray, 

Put up hir heid betuix the nicht and day. 



122 THE FABLES OF ESOPB. 



" Quha fall our lemman be? quha fall us leid? 

Quhen we ar fad, quha fall unto us fing? 
With his fweit bill he wald brek us the breid; 

In all this warld wes thair ane kynder thing ? 

In paramouris he wald do us plefing 110 

At his power, as nature did him geif, 
Now efter him, allace! how fall we leif?" 

Quod Sprutok than, " Ceis fifler of your forrow, 
Ye be too mad for him fie murning mais : 

We fall fair weill, I find, Sanct Johne to borrow, 
The proverb fay is, ' Als gude lufe cummis as gais.' 
I will put on my haly day is claithis. 

And mak me frefche agane this jolie May, 

Syne chant this fang, wes never wedow fa gay. 

" He wes angrie and held us ay in aw, 120 

And woundit with the fpeir of jelowfie. 

Of ehalmerglew, Pertok, full weill ye knaw, 
Waiflit he wes, of nature cauld and dry : 
Sen he is gone, thairfoir, filler, fay I, 

Be blyith in baill, for that is befl; remeid: 

Let quick to quick, and deid ga to the deid." 

Then Pertok fpak, with fenyeit faith befoir, 
" In lull but lufe he fet all his delyte ; 

Siflier, ye wait, of fie as him ane fcoir 

Wald not fufiice to flaik our appetyte. 130 

I hecht be my hand, fen he is quyte. 

Within ane oulk, for fchame and I durft fpeik, 

To get ane berne fuld better claw my breik. 



SCHIK CHANTECLEIR AND THE FOXE. 123 



Than Tappok lyke ane curate fpak full crous, 
" Yon wes ane verray vengeance from the hevin ; 

He wes fa lous, and fa lecherous : 

He had," quod fcho, " kittokis ma than fevin ; 
Bot rychteous God, haldand the ballandis evin, 

Sraytis richt fair, thocht he be patient. 

For adulterie that will thame nocht repent. 140 

*' Prydefull he wes, and joy it of his fin. 

And comptit not for Goddis favour nor feid; 

Bot traiflit ay to rax and fa to rin, 

Quhill at the lafl his finnis can him leid 

To fchamefuU end, and to yone fuddand deid : 

Thairfoir it is the verray hand of God, 

That caufit him be wirryit with the Tod." 

Quhen this wes faid, this Wedow fra hir fwoun 
Start up on fute, and on hir kennettis cryit, 

" How Berke, Berrie, Baufie Broun, 150 

Kype Schaw, Rin Weill, Curtes, Nuttieclyde, 
Togidder all but grunching furth ye glyde, 

Reskew my nobill Cok or he be flane. 

Or ellis to me fe ye cum never agane." 

With that, but baid, thay braidit over the bent, 
As fyre of flint thay over the feildis flaw, 

Full wichtlie thay throw woid and watteris went, 
And ceiffit nocht Schir Lowrence quhill they faw. 
Bot quhen he faw the kennettis cum on raw. 

Unto the Cok in mynd, he faid, " God fen 160 

That I and thow wer fairlie in mv den," 



124 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Than faid the Cok, with fum gude fpirit infpyrit, 
" Do my counfall, and I fall warrand thee ; 

Hungrie thou art, and for greit travell tyrit, 
Richt faint of force, and may nocht ferther fle : 
Swyith tiirne agane, and fay, That I and ye 

Freindis ar maid, and fellowis for ane yeir : 

Than will thay flint, I fland for it and nocht fleir." 

This Tod, thocht he was fals and frivolous, 
And hed freindis his querrell to defend, 170 

Defavit wes be meinis richt mervelous. 
For faKet failyeis ay at the latter end : 
He flart about, and cryit as he wes kend. 

With that the Cok he braid out of the bench ; 

Now juge ye all whereat Schir Lowrence leuch. 

Begylit thus the Tod under the tre, 

On kneis fell, and faid, " Gude Chantecleir, 

Cum doun agane, and I but meit or fey, 
Salbe your man and fervand for ane yeir." 
" Na, fals theif and reivar, fland nocht me neir ; 

My bludie hekill, and my neck fa bla, [180 

Hes partit freindfchip for ever betwene us twa. 

*' I wes unwyfe that winkit at thy will, 
Quhairthrow almaifl I loffit had my heid. 

I wes mair fule," quod he, " to be fa flill, 
Quhairthrow to put my pray in to pleid." 
" Fair on fals theif! God keep me fra thy feid." 

With that the Cok over the feildis tuke his flicht, 

And in at the Wedowis lewar couth he licht. 



SCHIR CHANTECLEIR AND THE FOXE, 125 



MORALITAS. 



Now worthie folk, fuppofe this be ane fabill, 190 
And overheillit with typis figurall, 

Yit may ye find ane fentence richt agreabill, 
Under thir fenyeit termis textuall: 
To our purpofe this Cok weill may we call 

Nyfe proud men, wod and vane glorious 

Of kin and blude, quhilk is prefumpteous. 

Fy ! puft up pryde, thow is full poyfonabill, 
Quha favoris thee on force man haif ane fall. 

Thy flrenth is nocht, thy ftule flandis unflabill, 
Tak witnes of the feyndis infernall, 200 

Quhilk houndit doun wes fra that hevinlie hall 

To hellis hoill, and to that hiddeous hous, 

Becaus in pryde thay wer prefumpteous. 

This fenyeit Foxe may weill be figurat 

To flatteraris, with plefand wordis quhyte; 

With fals mening, and mynd maifl toxicate, 
To loif and lee that fettis thair haill delyte ; 
All worthie folk at fie fuld haif defpyte. 

For quhair is thair mair perrilous pefl;ilence. 

Nor gif to learis haifl}elie credence. 210 

The wickit mynd and adulatioun, 

Of fucker fweit haifand the fimilitude, 
Bitter as gall, and full of poyfoun, 



126 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



To taifl it is, quha cleirlie underllude : 
Forthy as now fchortlie to conclude, 
Thir twa finnis, flatterie and vane gloir, 
Ar vennemous: gude folk flie thame tharefoir. 



THE TAILL HOW THIS FOIRSAID TOD 

MAID HIS CONFESSIOUN TO FREIK 

WOLF WAIT-SKAITH. 



Leif we this Wedow glaid I yow afiure, 
Of Chantecleir mair biyith than I can tell, 

And fpeik we of the fuhtell aventure 
And deflenie that to this Foxe befell, 
Quhilk durfl na mair with waiting intermell, 

Als lang as leme or licht wes of the day, 

Bot bydand nicht, full flill lurkand he lay. 

Quhill that Tethys, the goddes of the flude, 
Phebus had callit to the harberie, 

And Hefperus put up his cluddie hude, 10 

Schawand his luflie vifage in the fky, 
Than Lowrence luikit up, quhair he couth ly, 

And kefl his hand upon his ee on hicht, 

Merie and glaid that cummit wes the nicht. 

Out of the wode unto ane hill he went, 

Quhair he micht fe the twinkling flernis cleir, 

And all the Planetis of the firmament, 

Thair cours, and eik thair moving in the fpheir, 
Sum retrograde, and fum ftationeir; 

And of the Zodiak, in quhat degre 20 

Thay wer ilk ane, as Lowrence leirnit me. 



128 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Than Saturne auld wes enterit in Capricovne, 
And Juppiter movit in Sagittarie, 

And Mars up in the Rammis heid wes borne, 
And Phebus in the Lyoun furth can carie, 
Yenus the Crab, the Mone wes in Aquarie; 

Mercurius the god of Eloquence, 

In to the Yirgyn maid his refidence. 

But aftrolab, quadrant, or almanak, 

Teichit of nature be inllructioun, 30 

The moving of the hevin this Tod can tak, 
Quhat influence and conftellatioun 
Wes lyke to fall upon the eirth adoun; 

And to him felf he faid, withouttin mair, 

" Weill worth my father, that fend me to the lair. 

" My deftany, and eik my weird I wait, 
My aventour is cleirlie to me kend, 

With mifcheif myngit is my mortall fait, 
My misleving the foner bot gif I mend ; 
It is rewaird of fin ane fchamefull end ; 40 

Thairfoir I will ga feik fum confeffour. 

And fchryif me clene of my finnis to this hour. 

" Allace !" quod he, " richt waryit are we theifis, 
Our lyiffis fet ilk nicht in aventure, 

Our curfit craft full mony man mifchevis. 
For ever we fleill, and ever alyke ar pure. 
In dreid and fchame our dayis we indure. 

Syne widdie-nek and crak-raip callit als. 

And till our hyre hangit up be the hals. 



THE3 tod's CONFESSIOUN TO FREIR WOLF. 129 



Aecufand thus his cankerit confcience, 50 

Unto ane craig he keft about his ee, 

So fliw he cumraand ane lytill than from thence, 
Ane worthie doctour of divinitie, 
Freir Wolf Wait-fkaith, in fcience wonder (lie, 

To preiche and pray wes new cumit fra the cloiller, 

With beidis in hand fayand his Pater Nofler. 

Seand the Wolf, this wylie tratour Tod 
On kneis fell, with hude in to his nek : 

" Welcome, my father goflliell under God I" 
Quod he, with mony binge and mony bek. 60 
" Ha," quod the Wolf," Schir Tod, for quhat effek 

Mak ye fie feir? ryfe up, put on your hude." 

" Father," quod he, " I haif greit caufe to dude. 

" Ye ar mirrour, lanterne, and ficker way, 
Suld gyde fie fempill folk as me to grace; 

Your bair feit, and your rufiet cowll of gray, 
Your lene cheikisj your paill pitteous face, 
Schawis to me your perfite halienes; 

For Weill wer him that an is in his lyfe. 

Had hap to yow his finnis for to fchryve. 70 

" Na, felie Lowrence," quod the Wolf, and leuch ; 

" It pleifis me that ye ar penitent." 
" Of reif and flouth, Schir, I can tell aneuch, 

That caufis me full fair for to repent. 

Bot, father, byde flill heir upon the bent, 
I yow befeik, and heir me to declair 
My confcience, that prikkis me fo fair. 
I 



130 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Weill," quod the Wolf, " fit down upon thy kne." 
And fo he doun bairheid fat full humillie, 

And fyne began with " Benedicite !" 80 

Quhen I this faw, I drew ane lytill by, 
For it efFeiris nouther to heir, nor fpy, 

Nor to reveill thing faid under that feill; 

Bot to the Tod this gait the Wolf couth tell, 

" Art thow contrite, and forie in thy fpreit 
For thy trefpas T' '* No, Schir, I can nocht dude ; 

Me think that hennis are fua honie fweit, 
And lambis flefche that new ar lettin bluid. 
For to repent my mind can nocht concluid, 

Bot of this thing, that I haif flane fa few." 90 

" Weill," quod the Wolf, " in faith thou art ane fchrew. 

" Sen thou can nocht forthink thy wickitnes, 
Will thou forbeir in tyme to cum, and mend ?" 

" And I forbeir, how fall I leif, allace ! 
Haifand nane uther craft me to defend? 
Neid caufis me to fteill quhair ever I wend. 

I efchame to thig, I can nocht wirk, ye wait, 

Yit wald I fane pretend to a gentill flait." 

" Weill," quod the Wolf, " thou wantis pointis twa 
Belangand to periyte confeffioun. 100 

To the thrid point of penitence, let us ga. 
Will thou tak pane for thy tranfgreffioun ?" 
" No, Schir, confidder my complexioun, 

Selie and walk, and of my nature tender, 

Lo, will ye f e ! I am baith lene and fklender. 



THE tod's CONFESSIOUN TO FREIR WOLF. 131 



" Yit, nevertheles, I wald, iwa it wer licht, 
And fchort, and noclit grevand to ray tendernes, 

Tak part of pane, fulfill it gif I raicht, 
To fett my felie faull in way of grace." 
" Thou fall," quod he, " forbeir flefche hyne 
till Pafche, 110 

To tame this corps, that curfit carioun, 

And heir I reach thee full remiilioun." 

" I grant thairto, fwa ye will gif me leif 
To eit puddingis, or laip ane lytill blude. 

Or held, or feit, or paynchis let me preif, 
In cace I fait of flefche in to my fude." 
" For greit miller, I gif thee leif to dude, 

Tvvyfe in the oulk, for ' Neid may haif na law.' ' 

" God yeild yow, Schir, for that text weill I knaw.' 

Quhen this wes faid, the Wolf his wayis went. 120 
The Foxe on fute he fure unto the flude, 

To fang him fifche haillelie wes his intent ; 

But quhen he faw the watter, and wallis wod, 
Aftonift all flill in to ane ftait he flude. 

And faid, " Better that I had bidden at hamo, 

Nor bene ane fifchar in the Devillis name. 

" Now mon I fcraip my meit out of the fand, 
For I haif nouther boittis, nor net, nor bait." 

As he wes thus for fait of meit murnand, 

Lukand about his leving for to get, 130 

Under ane tre he faw ane trip of gait ; 

Than wes he blyith, and in ane heuch him hid, 



132 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



And fra the gait he flail ane lytill kid. 

Syne ouer the heuch unto the fee he hyis, 
And tuke the kid rycht be the hornis twane, 

And in the watter, outher twyis or thryis, 
He dowkit him, and till him can he fayne, 
** Ga doTin, Schir Kid, cum up Sehir Salmond 
agane," 

Quhill he wes deid, fyne to the land him dreuch, 

And of that new maid Salmond eit aneuch. 140 

Thus fynelie fillit with young tender meit, 
Unto ane derne for dreid he hes him drefl, 

Under ane bufk, quhair that the fone can beit : 
To beik his breifl and bellie he thocht befl ; 
And rekleflie he faid, quhair he did reft, 

Straikand his wame aganis the fonis heit, 

Upon this bellye fett wer ane bolt fall meit. 

Quhen this wes faid, the keipar of the gait, 
Cairfull in hart his kid wes flollin away, 

On everilk fyde full warlie couth he wait, 150 
Quhill at the lafl he faw quhair Lowrence lay; 
His bow he bent, ane flane with fedderis gray 

He haillit to the heid, and ere he fteird, 

The Foxe he prikkit fafl unto the eird. 

" Now," quod the Foxe, " allace ! and well-away ; 

Gorit I am, and may no farther gang ; 
Me think na man may fpeik ane word in play, 

Bot now on dayis, in ernifl it is tane." 



J 



THE tod's CONFESSIOUN TO FREIR WOLF. 133 



The Hird him hynt, and out he drew his flane ; 
And for his kid, and uther violence, 160 

He tuke his fkyn, and maid ane recompence. 



MORALITAS. 

This fuddand deith, and unprovyfit end 
Of this fals Tod, without contritioun, 

Exempill is exliortand folk to amend, 
For dreid of lie ane lyke confufioun ; 
For mony gois now to confellioun, 

Yit nocht repentis, nor for tliair finnis greit, 

Becaufe thay think thair luftie lyfe fa fweit. 

Sum bene alfo throw eonfuetude and ryte, 

Yincufl with carnaU fenfualitie, 170 

Suppofe thay be as for the tyme contryte. 
Can nocht forbeir, nor fra thair finnis fle, 
Ufe drawis Nature fwa in propertie 

Of beifl and man, that neidlingis thay man do, 

As thay of lang tyme hes bene hantit to. 

Be war, gude folk, and dreid this fuddane fchoit, 
Quliilk fmytis fair withouttin refiflence. 

Attend wyiflie, and in your hartis noit, 
Aganis deid may na man mak defence. 
Ceis of your fin, remord your confcience, 180 

Obey unto your God, and ye fall wend 

Efter vour deid, to blis withouttin end. 



THE TAILL OF THE SONE AND AIR OF 
THE FOmSAID FOXE, CALLIT FATHER 
WARE : ALSWA THE PARLIAMENT OF 
FOURFUTTIT BEISTIS HALDIN BE THE 
LYOUN. 



I 



( 



This foirfaid Foxe, that deit for his mifdeid. 
Had nocht ane barne wes gottin richteouflie, 

Till airfchip be law that micht fucceid, 
Except ane fone, quhilk in adulterie 
He gottin had in purches privelie, 

And till his name wes callit Father Ware, 

That lufit Weill with pultrie to tig and tar. 

It followis Weill be refoun naturall, 

And gree be gree, of richt comparifoun : 

Of evill cummis war : of war cummis werft of all, 10 
Of wTangous geir cummis fals fucceffioun. 
This Foxe, baflard of generatioun, 

Of verray kynde behufit to be fals ; 

Swa wes his father and his grandfchir als. 

As nature will feikand his meit be fent, 
Of cace he fand his fatheris carioun, 

Nakit. new flane, and till him hes he went, 
Take up his heid, and on his kneis fell doun, 
Thankand greit God of that conclufioun. 



I 



« 



J 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 135 



And faid, '* Now fall 1 bruke, fen I am air, 20 
The boundis quliair thow wes wont for to repair." 

Fy ! covetice unkynd and venemous : 

The fone wes fane he fand his father deid, 

Be fuddand fchot for deidis odious, 

That he raicht regne, and raxe in till his fleid, 
Dreidand na thing that famin lyfe to leid. 

In thift, and reif, as did his father befoir ; 

Bot to the end attent he tuke no moir. 

Yit, nevertheles, throw naturall piete. 

The carioun upon his bak he tais ; 30 

" Now find I Weill this proverb trew," quod he, 
" Ay rinnis the Foxe, als lang as he fute has." 
Syne with the corps unto ane peitpot gais. 

Of watter full, and kefl him in the deip, 

And to the Devill his banis he gaif to keip. 

fulifche man ! plungit in warldlines. 

To conqueis wrangous gude, and gold, or rent, 

To put thy fauU in pane or hevines, 

To riche thy air, quhilk efter thow art went, 
Haif he thy gude, he takkis bot fmall tent 40 

To execute, to do, to fatisfie 

Thy latter will, thy det, and legacie. 

This Tod to reft him, he paffit to ane crag, 
And thair he hard ane bufteous bugill blaw, 

Quhilk, as he thocht, maid all the warld to wag, 
Tlian ftart he up quben he this hard, and faw 



136 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Ane unicorne come lanfand over ane law, 
With home in hand, ane built in breifl he bure, 
Ane purfephant femelie I yo\Y alTure. 

Unto ane bank quhair he micht fe about 50 

On everilk fyde, in haifl he euld him hy, 

Schot out his voce, full fchill, and gaif ane 
fchout. 
And Oyas, Oyas, twyfe or thryfe coud cry: 
With that the beiilis in the feild thairby 

All merveland quhat iic ane thing fuld mene, 

Greitlie agafl thay gadderit on ane grene. 

Out of his buifl ane bill fone can he braid, 
And red the text withouttin tarying, 

Commandand lilence, fadlie thus he faid: 

*' The nobill Lyoun, of all beiilis the king, 60 
Greting to God, ay leftand, but ending, 

To brutall Beiilis and irrationall, 

I fend, as to my fubjectis greit and fmall. 

" My celfitude, and hie magnificence 

Lattis yow to wit, that evin incontinent, 

Thinkis the morne, with royall diligence. 
Upon this hill to hald ane Parliament; 
Straitlie thairfoir I gif commandement 

For to compeir befoir my tribunall. 

Under all pane, and perrell that may fall." 70 

The morrow come, and Phebus with his bemis 
Confumit had the millie cloudis gray. 



THE PARLIAMENT OP BEISTIS. 13" 



The ground wes grene, and als as gold it glemis, 
With gers growand gudelie, greit, and gay. 
The fpyce tliey fpred to fpring on everilk fpray. 
The Lark, the Maveis, and the Merle full hie, 
Sweitlie can iing treippand fra tre to tre. 

Thre Leopardis come, a crown of maffie gold 
Beirand, thay brocht unto that hillis hicht, 

With jafpis jonit, and royall rubeis rold, 80 

And mony diveris diamontis dicht. 
With powis proud ane palzeoun doun thay picht. 

And in that throne thair fat ane wild Lyoun, 

In rob royall, with fceptour, fwerd, and croun. 

Efter the tennour of the cry befoir, 

That gais on all fourfuttit beiftis on eird, 

As thay commandit wer withouttin moir, 
Befoir thair lord the Lyoun thay appeird: 
And quhat thay wer, to me as Lowrence leird, 

I fall reheirs ane part of everilk kynd, 90 

Als fer as now occurris to my mynd. 

The Minotaur, ane monller mervelous, 
Bellerophant, that beift of ballardrie, 

The Warwolf, and the Pegafe perillous, 
Transformit be affent of forcerie. 
The Lynx, the Tiger full of tirannie : 

The Elephant, and eik the Dromedarie: 

The Cameill with his cran-nek furth can carie: 

The Leopard, as I half tauld beforne, [100 

The Anteloip, the Sparth furth couth him fpeid, 



138 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



The payntit Pantheir, and the Unicorne, 

The Rayndeir ran throw reveir, rone, and reid, 
The jolie Gillet, and the gentill Steid ; 

The AlTe, the Mule, the Hors of everilk kynd ; 

The Daw, the Ra, the hornit Hart, the Hynd. 

The Bull, the Beir, the Bugill, and the Bair, 
The tame Cat, wild Cat, and the wildwod 
Swyne : 

The hardbakkit Hurcheoun, and the hirpland Hair, 
Baith Otter and Aip, and pennit Porcupyne ; 
The gukit Gait, the felie Scheip, the Swyne ; 110 

The wild Once, the Buk, the welterand Brok, 

The Fowmart, and the Fibert furth can flok. 

The gay Grewhound, with Sleuthhound furth can 
Hyde, 
With Doggis all divers and different ; 

The Rattoun ran, the Glebard furth can glyde ; 
The quhyrrand Quhitret with the Quhaifill went, 
The Feitho that hes furrit mony fent ; 

The Mertrik, with the Cunning, and the Con, 

The Bowranbane, and eik the Lerroun. 

The Marmyffet the Mowdewart couth leid, 120 
Becaufe that Nature denyit had hir iicht : 

Thus dreffit thay all furth, for dreid of deid. 
The Mufk, the lytill Mous with all hir micht, 
With haifl fcho haikit unto that hill of hieht ; 

And mony kynd of beiftis 1 couth nocht kuaw, 

Befoir thair lord ilkane thav loutit law. 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 13U 



Seing thir beiftis all at his bidding boun, 
He gaif ane braid, and lukit him about, 

Than flatlingis to his feit thay fell all doun. 
For dreid of deid they droupit all in doubt. 130 
The Lyoun lukit quhen he faw thame lout, 

And bad thame, with ane countenance full fvveit, 

" Be nocht effeirit, bot Hand up on your feit, 

" I let yow wit, my micht is merciabill. 
And fleiris nane that ar to me proflrait, 

Angrie, auflerne, and als unamyabill, 
To all that flandis fray to myne eflait. 
I rug, I reif, all beiftis that makis debait 

Aganis the micht of my magnificence, 

Se none pretend to pryde in my prefence. 140 

" My celfitude, and my hie Majeftie, 

With micht and mercie myngit fall be ay, 

The laweft hart I can full fone uphie, 

And mak him maifler over yow all I may. 
The Dromedair, gif he will mak deray. 

The greit Cameill, thocht he wer never fa crous, 

I can him law als lytill as ane Mous. 

" Se neir be tvventie mylis quhair I am. 
The Kid ga faiflie be the Gaittis fyde. 

The Tod Lowrie luke nocht to the Lam, 150 
Nor revand beiftis nowther ryn nor ryde." 
Thay couchit all efter that this wes cryde. 

The Juftice bad the Court for to gar fence, 

The fuittis callit, and foirfalt all abfence. 



140 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



The Panther with his payntit coit armour, 
Feniit the Court, as of the law ejQfeird, 

Than Tod Lowrie lukit quhair he couth lour, 
And ftart on fute, all flonifl and all fleird, 
Kyvand his hair, he cryit with ane reird, 

Quaikand for dreid, and liehand couth he fay, 160 

*' AUace, this hour ! allace, this dulefull day ! 

*' I wait this fuddand femblie that I fe, 
Haifand the pointis of ane Parliament, 

Is maid to mar fie mifdoaris as me. 

Thairfoir gif I me fchaw I will be fchent, 
I will be focht gif I be red abfent: 

To byde, or fle, it makkis no remeid, 

All is alyke, thair followis nocht bot deid." 

Perplexit thus in his hart can he mene, 

Throw falfet how he micht him felf defend, 170 

His hude he drew laich attour his ene, 

And winkand with ane eye, furth he wend ; 
Clinfcheand he come, that he micht nocht be kend. 

And for dreddour that he fuld bene arreifl;, 

He playit bakhude behind, fra beifl; to beift. 

! fylit fpreit, and cankerit confcience, 
Befoir ane roy renyeit with richteoufnes, 

Blakinnit cheikis, and fchamefuU countenance. 
Fair Weill thy fame, now gane is all thy grace. 
The phifnomie, the favour of thy face, 180 

For thy defence is foull and disfigurate, 

Brocht to the licht, blaifit, blunt, and blait. 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 141 



Be thow atteichit with thift, or with trelToun, 
For thy mifdeid wrangous, and wickit fay, 

Thy cheir changis, Lowrence, thou may luke doun, 
Thy worfchip of this warld is went away. 
Luke to this Tod how he was in effray, 

And fle the filth of falfet, I thee reid, 

Quhairthrow thair foUowis fyn and fchameful deid. 

Corapeirand thus befoir thair lord and king, 190 
In ordour fet as to thair eflait effeird; 

Of everilk kynd he gart ane part furthbring, 
And awfuUie he fpak, and at thame fpeird, 
Gif thair wes ony kynd of beiflis on erd 

Abfent, and thairto gart thame deiplie fweir? 

And thay faid, " Nane, except ane ftude gray Meir." 

" Go, make ane meffage fone unto that Stude." 
The Court than cryit, '' My Lord, quha fall 
that be?" 

" Cum furth Lowrie, lurkand under thy hude/' 
" Aa, Schir, mercie ! Lo, I haif bot ane ee ; 200 
Hurt in the hoche, and eruikit as ye may fe: 

The Wolf is better in ambaffadrie, 

And mair cunning in clergie fer than I." 

Rampand he faid, " Go furth ye brybouris baith." 
And thay to ga withouttin tarying, 

Over ron and ryfe thay ran togidder raith. 

And fand the Meir at hir meit in the morning. 
" Now," quod the Tod, " Madame, cum to the 
Kins:, 



142 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



The court is callit, and ye are contumax." 
" Let be, Lowrenee," quod fcho, " your eourtlie 
knax." 210 

" Maiflres," quod he, " cum to the court ye mon. 
The Lyoun hes commandit fo in deid." 

" Schir Tod, tak ye the flyrdome, and the fon, 
I haif refpite ane yeir, and ye will reid." 
*' I can nocht fpell," quod he, " fa God me fpeid. 

Heir is the Wolf, ane nobill clerk at all, 

And of this meffage is maid principall. 

"He is autentik, and ane man of age, 

And hes greit practik of the Chancellarie ; 

Let him ga luke, and reid your privilege, 220 
And I fall Hand, and beir witnes yow by." 
" Quhair is thy refpite ?" quod the Wolf, in hy. 

" Schir, it is heir, under my hufe weill hid." 

*' Hald up thy heill," quod he; and fo fcho did. 

Thocht he wes blindit with pryde, yit he prefumis 
To luke doun law, quhair that hir letter lay. 

With that the Meir gird him upon the gumis, 
And flraik the hattrell of his heid away. 
Half out of lyif, thair lenand doun he lay : 

" Allace!" quod Lowrenee, *' Lupus, thou art lofl."230 

" His cunning," quod the Meir, " wes worth fum 
coifl." 

" Lowrenee," quod fcho, " will thou luke on my 
letter, 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 143 



Sen that the Wolf thairof can na thing wyn?" 
" Na, be Sanct Bryde/' quod he, " me think it 
better 

To fleip in heill, nor in ane hurt fkin. 

Ane fkrow I fand, and this wes written in — 
' For five fchillingis I wald nocht anis forfault him, 
Felix quern faciunt aliena pericula cautum/" 

With bludie fkalp, and cheikis bla and reid, 
This wretchit Wolf weipand thus on he went, 240 

Of his menyie markand to get remeid : 
To tell the King the cace wes his intent. 
" Schir," quod the Tod, " byde ftill upon the 
bent, 

And fra your browis wefche away the blude. 

And tak ane drink, for it will do yow gude." 

To feche watter this fraudfull Foxe furth fure, 
Sydelingis abak he focht unto ane fyke; 

On cace he meittis cummand fra the mure, 
Ane trip of Lambis danfand on ane dyke : 
This tratour Tod, this tirrane, and this tyke, 250 

The fattefl of this flock he fellit hais, 

And eit his fill, fyne to the Wolf he gais. 

Thay drank togidder, and thair journey takis, 
Befoir the King, fyne kneillit on thair kne. 

" Quhair is yone Meir, Schir Tod, wes contumax?" 
Than Lowrence faid, " My Lord, fpeir nocht at me! 
This new maid Doctour of Divinitie, 

With his red cap can tell you weill yneuch." 



144 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



With that the Lyoun and all the laif thay leuch. 

" Tell on the eais, now, Lowrence, let us heir." 260 
" This wittie Wolf," quod he, " this clerk of age, 

On your behalf he bad the Meir compeir ; 
And fcho allegit to ane privilege: 
* Cum near and fe, and ye fall half your wage :* 

Becaufe he red hir refpite plane and weill, 

Yone reid bonat fcho raucht him with hir heill." 

The Lyoun faid, " Be yone reid cap I ken 
This taill is trew, quha tent unto it takis; 

The greiteft clerkis ar nocht the wyfefl men, 
The hurt of ane, happie the uther makis." 270 
As thay wer carpand in this cais with knakis, 

And all the court in garray and in gam, 

Swa come the Yow, the mother of the Lam. 

Befoir the Juflice on hir kneis fell. 

Put furth hir playnt on this wyis wofullie: 

" This harlot horefone, and this hound of hell. 
He werryit hes my Lam full doggitlie. 
Within ane myle, incontrair of your cry. 

For Goddis lufe, my Lord, gif me the law 

Of this lymmar ;" with that Lowrence let draw. 280 

" Byde," quod the Lyoun ; " lymmer let us fe 
Gif it be futhe the felie Yow hes faid." 

" Aa, Soverane Lord, faif your mercie," quod he : 
" My purpois wes with him but to half playid. 
Caufles he fled as he had bene eflfrayid, 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 145 



For dreid of deid he dufchit ouer ane dyke, 
And brak his neck." " Thou leis," quod fcho, 
«' fals tyke ! 

" His deith be practik may be previt eith, 
Thy gorie gummis and thy bludie fnout; 

The woll, the flefche, yit flikkis in thy teith, 290 
And that is evidence aneuch but dout." 
The Juftice bad ga cheis ane affyis out : 

And fo thay did, and fand that he wes fals, 

Of murther, thift, pykeing, and treffoun als. 

Then bind him fall, the Juflice bad belyif. 
To gif the dome, and tak of all his claithis. 

The Wolf, that new maid Doctour, couth him 
fchryif, 
Syne furth him led, and to the gallons gais, 
And at the ledder fute his leif he tais ; 

The Aip was boucher, and bad him fone afcend, 300 

And hangit him : and thus he maid his end. 



MORALITAS. 

Right as the mynour in his mynorall, 

Fair gold with fyre may fra the lede well wyn, 

Richt fo under ane Fabill figurall, 

Sad fentence men may feik, and efter fyn. 
As daylie dois the Doctouris of Devyne, 

That to our leving full weill can apply. 

And paynt thair mater furth be poetry. 



146 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



The Lyoun is the Warld be lyklynes, 

To quhome loutis baith emperour and king, 310 

And thinkis of this warld to get incres, 
Thinkand daylie to get mair leving ; 
Sum for to reull, and fum to raxe and ring ; 

Sura gadderis geir, fum gold, fum uther gude; 

To wyn this world, fum wirkis as they wer wode. 

The Meir is men of gude conditioun, 
As pilgrymes walkand in this wildernes, 

Approvand that for richt religioun, 

Thair Grod onlie to pleis in everilk place ; 
Abflractit from this warldis wretehitnes, 320 

Fechtand with lufl, prefumptioun, and pryde, 

And fra this warld in mynd ar mortyfyde. 

This Wolf I Hkkin to fenfualitie. 

As quhen, lyke brutall beillis, we accord 

Our mynd all to this warldis vanitie, 

Lyking to tak, and loif him as our lord ; 
Fie fafl thairfra, gif thow will richt remord ; 

Than fall reffoun ryifs, raxe, and ring, 

And for thy faull thair is no better thing. 

Hir hufe I likkin to the thocht of deid, 330 

Wilt thow remember, Man, that thow man de; 

Thow may brek fenfualiteis heid, 

And flefchlie lufl away fra thee fall fle, 
Fra thow begin thy mynd to mortifie : 

Solomonis faying, thow may perfaif heirin, 

" Think on thy end, thow fall nocht glaidlie fiu." 



THE PARLIAMENT OF BEISTIS. 147 



This Tod I likkin to temptationis, 
Beirand to mynd mony thochtis vane, 

Aflaultand men with fweit perfuafionis, 

Ay reddie for to trap thame in ane trayne. 340 
Yit gif thay fe fenfualitie neir flane, 

And fuddand dede draw neir with panis fore, 

Thay go abak, and temptis thame no moir. 

0, Mediatour ! mercifull and meik, 

Thow Soverane Lord, and King Celestiall, 

Thy celfitude maift humillie we befeik, 
Us to defend fra pane and perrellis all; 
And help us up unto thy Hevinlie hall, 

In gloir, quhair we may fe the face of God ! 

And thus endis the talking of the Tod. 350 



THE TAILL OF THE DOG, THE SCHEIP, 
AND THE WOLF. 



EsoPE ane taill puttis in memorie, 

How that ane Dog, becaiife that he wes pure, 

Callit ane Scheip to the Coniillorie, 

Ane certane breid fra him for to recure: 
Ane fraudfuU Wolf was juge that time, and bure 

Authoritie and jurifdictioun ; 

And on the Scheip fend furth ane flrait fummoun. 

For be the ufe and cours of commoun flyle, 

On this maner maid his citatioim : 
" I, Maifter Wolf, pairtles of fraud and gyle, 10 

Under the panis of hie fufpenfioun. 

Of greit curfing, and interdictioun, 
Schir Scheip I charge thee flraitly to compeir, 
And anfwer to ane Dog befoir me heir," 

Schir Corbie Ravin wes maid Apparitour, 
Quha pykit had full mony fcheipis ee; 

The charge hes tane, and on the letteris bure, 
Summonit the Scheip befoir the Wolf, that he 
Peremptourlie, within twa dayis or thre, 

Compeir under the panis in this bill, 20 

To heir quhat Perrie Dog will fay thee till. 



THE DOG, THE SCHEIP, AND THE WOLF. 149 



This fummondis maid befoir witnes anew, 
The Ravin, as to his office weill effeird, 

Indorfat hes the write, and on he flew: 

The felie Scheip durfl lay na mouth on eird, 
Till he befoir the awfuU juge appeird, 

The hour of eaufe, quhilk that the juge ufit than, 

Quhen Hefperus to fchaw his face began. 

The Foxe wes Clerk and notar in the caufe, 30 
The Gled, the Graip at the bar couth fland. 

As Advocatis expert in to the lawis. 

The Doggis pley togidder tuke on hand, 
Quhilk wer confederate flraitlie in ane band, 

Aganis the Scheip to procure the fentence; 

Thocht it was fals, thay had na confcience. 

The Clerk callit the Scheip, and he wes thair : 
The Advocatis on this wyfe couth propone : 

Ane certane breid, worth five fchillingis or mair, 
Thow aw the Dog, of quhilk the terme is gone. 
Of his awin heid, but advocate allone, 40 

The Scheip avifitlie gaif anfwer in the cace, 

" Heir I declyne the juge, the tyme, the place. 

" This is my caufe, in motive and effect : 
The law fayis, it is richt perrilous 

Till enter in pley befoir ane juge fufpect ; 
And ye, Schir Wolf, hes bene richt odious 
To me, for with your tufkis ravenous, 

Hes flane full mony kinnifmen of myne; 

Thairfoir as juge fufpect, I yow declyne. 



150 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" And fchortlie, of this Court ye memberis all, 50 
Baith AffelTouris, Clerk, and Advocate, 

To me and myne ar enemeis mortall, 

And ay hes bene, as mony fcheipherd wate; 
The place is ferre, the tyme is feriate, 

Quhairfoir no Juge fuld lit in ConfiHorie, 

Sa lait at evin, I yow accufe forthy." 

Quhen that the Juge on this wyfe wes accuiit, 
He bad the parteis cheis, with ane aflent, 

Twa arbiteris, as in the Law is ufit. 

For to declair, and gif arbitrement, 60 

Quhidder the Scheip fuld anfwer in jugement 

Befoir the Wolf: and fo thay did but weir. 

Of quhome the namis efterwart ye fall heir. 

The Beir, the Brok the mater tuke on hand, 
For to decyde, gif this exceptioun 

Wes of na flrenth, nor lauchfullie mycht Hand ; 
And thairupon, as jugeis, thay fat douu, 
And held ane lang quhile difputatioun, 

Seikand full mony decreittis of the Law, 

And gloffis als, the veritie to knaw. 70 

Of Civile Law volumis mony thay revolve, 
The Codies and Digeflis new and aid; 

Contra and pro, ftrait argumentis thay refolve, 
Sum a doctrine, and fum another hald ; 
For prayer, or price, trow ye, that tbay wald fald ? 

Bot held the Glofe, and text of the Decreis, 

As trew^ jugeis : I befchrew thame that leis. 



THE DOG, THE SCHEIP, AND THE WOLF. 151 



Schortlie to mak an end of this debait, 
The Arbiteris, than fweirand full plane, 

The fentence gaif, and proces fulminat, 80 

The Scheip fuld pas befoir the Wolf agane, 
And end his pley. Than wes he no thing fane ; 

For fra thair fentence couth he nocht appeill. 

On clerkis I do it, gif this fentence wes leill. 

The Scheip agane befoir the Wolf derenyeit, 
But advocate, abafitlie couth Hand. 

Up rais the Dog, and on the Scheip thus plenyeit, 
Ane foume I pay it half befoir the hand 
For certane breid ; thairto ane borrow he fand, 

That wrangouflie the Scheip did hald the breid ; 90 

Quhilk he deny it; and thair began the pleid. 

And quhen the Scheip this ftryif had conteftait. 
The Juftice in the caufe furth can proceid : 

Lowrence the actis and the proces wrait, 
And thus the pley unto the end thay fpeid. 
This curfit Court corruptit all for meid, 

Aganis gude faith, law, and eik confcience. 

For this fals Dog pronuncit the fentence. 

And it till put to executioun, 

The Wolf chargeit the Sclieip, without delay, 100 
Under the panis of interdictioun. 

The foume of filver, or the breid, to pay. 

Of this fentence, allace ! quhat fall I fay? 
Quhilk dampnit hes the felie innocent, 
And juftifyit the wrangous jiigement. 



152 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



The Scheip, dreidand mair executioun, 
Obeyand to the fentence, he couth tak 

His way unto ane merchand of the toun, 

And fauld the woll that he bure on his bak ; 
Syne bocht the breid, and to the Dog couth 
mak 110 

Reddie payment, as it commandit was : 

Nakit and bair, fyne to the feild couth pas. 



MORALITAS. 

This felie Scheip may prefent the figure 
Of pure Commounis that daylie ar oppreft 

Be tirrane men, quhilkis fettis all thair cure, 
Be fals meinis, to mak ane wrang conqueifl. 
In hope this prefent lyfe fuld ever left: 

Bot all begylit, thay will in fchort tyme end. 

And efter deith to lefland panis wend. 

This Wolf I Hkkin to ane Schiref flout, 120 

Quhilk byis ane forfalt at the Kingis hand, 

And hes with him ane curfit Aflyis about. 
And dytis all the pure men up-on-land. 
Fra the Crownar half laid on him his wand, 

Thocht he wer trew as ever wes Sanct Johne, 

Slane fall he be, or with the Juge compone. 

This Ravin I likkin to ane fals Crownair, 

Quhilk hes ane porteoufs of the indytement, 
And paffis furth befoir the Juflice Air, 



THE DOG, THE SCHEIP, AND THE WOLF. 153 



All mifdoaris to bring to jugement. 130 

Bot luke gif he wes of ane trew intent, 
To fcraip out Johne, and wryte in Will, or Wat, 
And fwa ane bud at baith the parteis tak. 

Of this fals Tod, of quhilk I fpak befoir, 
And of this Gled, quhat thay micht lignifie, 

Of thair nature, as now I fpeik no moir; 
Bot of this Scheip, and of his cairfull cry, 
I fall reheirs ; for as I paffit by 

Quhair that he lay, on cafe I lukit doun. 

And hard him mak fair lamentatioun. 140 

" Allace 1" quod he, " this curfit Confillorie, 
In middis of the winter now is maid, 

Quhen Boreas, with blaflis bitterlie, 
And hard froiflis, thir flouris doun can faid; 
On bankis bair now may I mak na baid." 

And with that word into ane coif he crap, 

Fra fair wedder, and froiflis, him to hap. 

Quaikand for cauld, fair murnand ay amang, 150 
Keft up his ee unto the hevinnis hicht. 

And faid, " Lord, God, quhy lleipis thow fa lang ? 
Walk, and difcerne my caufe, groundit on richt : 
Se how I am, be fraud, maiflrie, and flicht, 

PeiUit full bair ; and fo is mony one 

Now in this world, richt wonder wo-begone. 

" Se how this curfit fone of covetice, 
Exylit hes baith lufe, lawtie, and law ; 



154 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Now few or nane will execute juflice ; 

111 fait of quhome, the pure man is ouerthraw. 

The veritie, fuppois the juge it knaw, 
He is fo blindit with affectioun, 160 

But dreid, for micht, he lettis the richt go doun. 

" Seis thow nocht, Lord, this warld ouerturnit is, 
As qulia wald change gude gold in leid or tyn ; 

The pure is peillit, the lord may do na mifs; 
And Simonie is haldin for na fyn, 
Now is he blyith with okker maift may win; 

Gentrice is llane, and pietie is ago, 

AUace! gude Lord, quhy tholis Thow it fo? 

" Thow tholis this, evin for our greit offence, 
Thow fendis us troubill and plaigis foir, 170 

As hunger, derth, greit weir, or peflilence ; 
Bot few amendis now thair lyfe thairfoir! 
We pure pepill, as now may do no moir 

Bot pray to Thee, fen that we ar oppreft 

In to this eirth. Grant us in hevin gude reft !" 



THE PROLOGUE. 



In middis of June, that joly fweit feafoun, 

Quhen that fair Phebus, with his bemis bricht, 

Had dryit up the dew fra daill and doun, 
And all the land maid with his lemis licht ; 
In ane mornyng, betuix mid-day and nicht, 

I rais, and put all lleuth and fleip afyde, 

And to ane wod I went alone, but gyde. 

Sweit wes the fmell of flouris quhyte and reid, 
The noyis of birdis richt delitious, 

The bewis braid blomit abone my held, 10 

The ground growand with gerfis gratious : 
Of all plefance that place wes plenteous, 

With fweit odouris, and birdis harmonie, 

The morning my Id, my mirth wes niair forthy. 

The roifis reid arrayit on rone and ryce. 
The prymerois, and the purpour viola; 

To heir it wes ane poynt of Paradice, 

Sic mirth the mavis and the merle couth ma. 
The bloffummis blyith brak up on bank and bra, 

The fmell of herbis, and of fouUis cry, 20 

Contending quha fuld haif the victorie. 



156 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Me to conferve then fra the fonnis heit, 

Under the fchadow of ane hawthorne grene, 

I lenit doun amang the flouris fweit, 

Syne cled my held, and elofit baith my ene. 
On lleip I fell amang thir bewis bene. 

And, in my dreme, methocht come throw the fchaw 

The fairefl man that euer befoir I faw. 

His gowne wes of ane claith als quhyte as milk, 
His chymeris wes of chambelote purpour broun ; 30 

His hude of fcarlet, bordourit weill with lilk, 
On hekillit wyis, untill his girdill doun; 
His bonat round, and of the auld faffoun ; 

His beird wes quhyte, his ene wes greit and gray. 

With lokker hair, quhilk ouer his fchulderis lay. 

Ane roll of paper in his hand he bair, 
Ane fwannis pen llikkand under his eir, 

Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair, 
Ane bag of filk, all at his belt can beir : 
Thus was he gudelie graithit in his geir. 40 

Of flature large, and with ane feirfull face, 

Evin quhair I lay he come ane flurdie pace ; 

And faid, " God fpeid, my fone :" and I wes fane 
Of that couth word, and of his cumpanie. 

With reverence I falulit him agane, 

" Welcome, father :" and he fat doun me by. 
" Difpleis you nocht, my gude mailler, thocht I 

Demand your birth, your facultie, and name, 

Quhy ye come heir, or qiihair ye dwell at hame?" 



THE PROLOGUE. 157 



" My fone," faid he, " I am of gentill blude, 50 
My native land is Rome withouttin nay; 

And in that towne firft to the fculis I yude, 
In civile law fludyit fiill mony ane day, 
And now my winning is in hevin for ay : 

Efope I hecht; my wryting and my werk, 

Is couth and kend to mony cunning clerk." 

" Maifter Efope, poet laureate, 

God wait ye ar full deir welcum to me; 

Ar ye nocht he that all thu' Fabillis wrait, 
Quhilk in effect, fuppois thay fenyeit be, 60 
Ar full of prudence and moralitie?" 

" Fair fone,'* faid he, " I am the famin man." 

Grod wait gif that my hert wes merie than. 

I faid, " Efope, my maifter venerabill, 
I yow befeik hartlie, for cheritie. 

Ye wald nocht difdayne to teU ane prettie Fabill, 
Concludand with ane gude moralitie." 
Schaikand his heid, he faid, " My fone lat be ; 

For quhat is worth to tell ane fenyeit taill, 

Quhen haly preiching may no thing availl? 70 

<* Now in this world me think richt few or nane 
To Goddis word that hes devotioun; 

The eir is deif, the hart is hard as fta,ne, 
Now oppin fin, without correctioun. 
The ee inclynand to the eirth ay doun: 

Sa rouftie is the warld with canker blak. 

That now my taillis may lytill fuccour mak." 



158 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Yit, gentill Schir," faid I, " for my requeift, 
Nocht to difpleis your fatherheid, I pray. 

Under the figure of ane brutale beifi, 80 

Ane morall Fabill ye wald denyie to fay : 
Quha wait, nor I may leir, and beir away 

Sum thing, thairby heirefter may availl?" 

" I grant," quod he, and thus begouth ane taill. 



THE TAILL OF THE LYOUN AND THE 
MOIJS. 



Ane Lyoun at his pray wery foirrun, 
To recreat his limmis and to refl, 

Beikand his breift and bellie at the fone, 
Under ane tree lay in the fair forreft, 
Swa come ane trip of Myis out of thair nefl, 

Rycht tait and trig, all danfand in ane gyis, 

And ouer the Lyoun lanfit twyis or thryis. 

He lay fo flill, the Myis wes nocht effeird, 
Bot to and fro out ouer him tuke thair trace, 

Sum tirllit at the lampis of his beird, 10 

Sum fpairit nocht to claw him on the face; 
Merie and glaid, thus danfit thay ane fpace, 

Till at the lafl the nobill Lyoun woke, 

And with his pow the mailler Mous he tuke. 

Scho gaif ane cry, and all the laif agafl, 

Thair daniing left, and hid thame fone allquhair ; 

Scho that wes tane, cryit and weipit fall, 

And faid, AUace ! oftymes, that fcho come thair ; 
" Now am I tane ane wofull prefonair. 

And for my gilt traiflis incontinent, 20 

Of lyfe and deith to thoill the jugement." 



160 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Than fpak the Lyoun to that cairfull Mous, 
" Thou cative wretche, and \ale unworthie thing, 

Ouer malapert, and eik prefumpteous 

Thow wes, to mak out ouer me thy tripping. 
Knew thow nocht weill, I wes baith lord and king 

Of Beillis all." " Yes/' quod the Mous, ''- I knaw ; 

Bot I mifknew, becaufe ye lay fo law. 

" Lord ! I befeik thy kinglie royaltie, 

Heir quhat I fay, and tak in pacienee ; 30 

Confidder firft my fimple povertie, 

And fyne thy mychtie hie magnificence : 
See als how thingis done of negligence, 

Nouther of malice nor of prefumptioun, 

Erar fuld haif grace and remiffioun, 

" We wer repleit, and had grit haboundance 
Of alkin thingis, fie as to us effeird, 

The fweit fefoun provokit us to dance, 
And mak fie mirth as Nature to us leird. 
Ye lay fo fl;ill, and law upon the eird, 40 

That be my fauU, we wend ye had bene deid, 

Ellis wald we nocht haif dancit ouer your heid." 

" Thy fals excufe," the Lyoun faid agane, 
" Sail' nocht availl ane myte, I underta : 

I put the cafe, I had bene deid or flane, 
And fyne my fkyn bene fl;oppit full of flira, 
Thocht thow had found my figure lyand fwa, 

Becaufe it bair the prent of my perfoun, 

Thow fuld for feir on kneis haif fallin doun. 



THE LTOUN AND THE MOUS. 161 



" For thy trefpas thow fall mak na defence, 50 
My nobill perfoun thus to vilipend; 

Of thy feiris, nor thy awin negligence, 

For to excufe, thow can na caufe pretend; 
Thairfoir thow fuffer fall ane fchamefuU end. 

And deith, lie as to treffoun is decreit, 

On to the gallons harlit be the feit." 

" A mercie, Lord! at thy gentrice I afe: 
As thow art king of beiftis coronat. 

Sober thy wraith, and let thy yre ouerpas, 

And mak thy mynd to mercy inclynat; 60 
I grant offence is done to thyne eftait, 

Quhairfoir I worthie am to fuffer deid, 

Bot gif thy kinglie mercie reik remeid. 

" In everie juge mercy and reuth fuld be 

As affeffouris, and coUaterall; 
Without mercie Jullice is crueltie, 

As faid is in the Lawis Spirituall; 

Quhen rigour fittis in the tribunal!, 
The equitie of Law quha may fuftene? 
Richt few or nane but mercie gang betwene. 70 

" Alfwa ye knaw the honour triumphall 
Of all victour upon the flrenth dependis 

Of his conqueiH, quhilk manlie in battell. 
Throw jeopardie of weir lang defendis. 
Quhat price or loving quhen the battell endis 

Is faid of him, that ouercummis ane man 

Him to defend quhilk nouther may nor can? 

L 



162 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Ane thoufand myis to kill, and eke devoir, 
Is lytill manheid to ane flrong Lyoun ; 

Full lytill worfchip haif ye wyn thairfoir, 80 

To quhais ilrenth is na comparifoun : 
It will degraid fum part of your renoun, 

To flay ane Mous, quhilk may mak na defence, 

Bot afkand mercie at your Excellence. 

" Alfo, it femis nocht your celfitude, 
Quhilk ufis daylie meittis delitious, 

To fyle your teith, or lippis with my blude, 
Quhilk to your ftomok is contagious: 
Unhailfum meit is of ane fairie Mous, 

And that namelie untill ane flrang Lyoun, 90 

Wont till be fed with gentill vennifoun. 

" My lyfe is lytill worth, my deith is lefs, 
Yit and I leif, I may peradventure 

Supple your Hienes beand in diftres ; 
For oft is fene, ane man of fmall flature 
Eef kewit hes ane Lord of hie honour, 

Keipit that wes in point to be ouerthrawin, 

Throw misfortune, fie cace may be your awin." 

Quhen this wes faid, the Lyoun his language 
Paiffit, and thocht according to reflbun, 100 

And gart mercie his cruell yre affwage. 
And to the Mous grantit remiflioun. 
Opinnit his pow, and fcho on kneis fell doun, 

And baith hir handis unto the hevin upheld, 

Cryand, " Almychtie God mot yow foryeild l" 



I 

I 



THE LTOUN AND THE MOUS. 163 



Quhen fcho wes gone, the Lyoun held to hunt, 
For he had nocht, bot levit on his pray, 

And flew baith tayme and wyld, as he wes wont, 
And in the cuntrie maid ane greit deray; 
Till at the lall, the pepill fand the way 110 

This cruell Lyoun how that thay mycht tak, 

Of hempyn cordis ftrang nettis couth thay mak. 

And in ane rod, quhair he wes wont to ryn, 
With raipis rude fra tre to tre it band; 

Syne kefl ane range on raw the wod within, 
With hornis blafl, and kennettis fall calland : 
The Lyoun fled, and throw the rone rynnand, 

Fell in the nett, and hankit fute and heid, 

For all his llrenth he couth mak na remeid. 

Welterand about with hiddeous rummifllng, 120 
Quhyles to, quhyles fra, gif he mycht fuccour get ; 

Bot all in vane, it vailyeit him na thing. 
The mair he flang, the fafler wes the net; 
The raipis rude wes fa about him plet. 

On everilk fyde, that fuccour faw he none, 

Bot flill lyand, and murnand maid his mone. 

" lamit Lyoun ! liggand heir fa law, 
Quhair is the mycht of thy magnificence? 

Of quhome all brutall beiftis in eird llude aw, 
And dreid to luke upon thy excellence! 130 
But hoip or help, but fuccour or defence, 

In bandis ftrang heir mon I ly, allace! 

Till I be flane, I fee nane uther grace. 



164 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Thair is na wy that will my harmis wreck, 
Nor creature do confort to my croun; 

Quha fall me bute? quha fall my bandis brek? 
Quha fall me put fra pane of this prefoun V — 
Be he had maid this lamentatioun, 

Throw aventure the lytHl Mous come neir, 

And of the Lyoun hard the pietuous beir. 140 

And fuddandlie it come in till hir mynd 
That it fuld be the Lyoun did hir grace, 

And faid, " Now wer I fals, and richt unkynd, 
But gif I quit fum part of thy gentrace 
Thow did to me:" and on this way fcho gais 

To hir fellowis, and on thame fall can cry, 

" Cum help, cum help ;" and they come all in hy. 

" Lo !" quod the Mous, " this is the famin Lyoun 
That grantit grace to me quhen I wes tane ; 

And now is fafl heir bundin in prefoun, 150 

Brekand his hart, with fair murning and mane, 
Bot we him help of fuccour wait he nane ; 

Cum help to quyte ane gude turne for ane uther : 

Go, loufe him fone;" and thay faid, " Yea, gude 
brother." 

They tuke na knyfe, their teith wes fcharp aneuch : 
To fe that ficht, forfuith it wes greit wonder, 

How that thay ran amang the raipis teuch, 
Befoir, behind, fum yeid about, fum under, 
And fchuir the raipis of the nett in fchunder; 

Syne bad him ryfe, and he Hart up anone, 160 



THE LYOUN AND THE MOUS. 165 



And thankit tliame, fyne on his way is gone. 

Now is the Lyoun fre of all danger, 

Loufe and deliverit to his libertie, 
Be lytill beillis of ane fmall power, 

As ye haif hard, beeaufe he had pietie. 

Quod I, " Mailler, is thair ane Moralitie 
In this Fabill?" " Yea, Sone," he faid, " richt 

gude/' 
" I pray yow, Schir," quod I, " ye wald conclude." 



MORALITAS. 

As I fuppois, this mychtie gay Lyoun, 

May fignifie ane Prince, or Empriour, 170 

Ane poteflate, or yit ane king with croun, 
Quhilk fuld be walkrife, gyde, and governour, 
Of his pepill that takis na labour 

To reule, and fleir the land, and juflice keip, 

Bot lyis flill in luflis, flouth, and fleip. 

The fair Forrefl with levis lowne and lie, 
With fouUis fang, and flouris ferlie fweit, 

Is bot the Warld, and his profperitie. 
As fals plefans myngit with cair repleit. 
Rycht as the rois, with froifl, and wynter weit, 

Faidis, fwa dois the Warld, and thame defavis, 180 

Quhilk in thair luflis maifl confidence havis. 

Thir lytill Myis ar bot the Commountie, 



166 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Wantoun, unwyfe, without correctioun, 

Thair lordis, and princis, quhen that thay fe 

Of Juflice mak nane executioun, 

Thay dreid na thing to mak rebellioun, 

And difobey; for quhy? thay Hand nane aw, 

That garris thame thair Soveranis misknaw. 

Be this Fabill, ye Lordis of prudence 190 

May confidder the vertew of pietie. 

And to remit fumtyme ane greit offence, 
And mitigate with mercy crueltie. 
Oftymes is fene ane man of fmall degre, 

Hes quit ane kinbute baith for gude and evill, 

As lord hes done rigour, or grace him till. 

Quha waitis how fone ane lord of greit renoun, 
Holland in warldlie luft and vane plefance. 

May be ouerthrawin, deflroyit, and put doun, 
Thow fals fortoun? quhilk of all variance 200 
Is haill maillres, and leidar of the dance 

Till luily men, and blindis thame fo foir, 

That thay na perrell can provyde befoir. 

Thir rurall men, that llentit hes the net. 
In quhilk the Lyoun fuddandlie wes tane, 

Waittit alway amendis for to get, 

(For hurt men wrytis in the marbill ftane) : 
Mair till expound as now I let allane, 

Bot King and Lord may weill wit quhat I mene; 

Figure heirof oftymis hes bene fene. 210 



THE LTOUN AND THE MOUS. 167 



Quhen this wes faid, quod Efope, " My fair Child, 
Perfuaid the Kirkraen ythandly to pray, 

That treflbun of this Countrie be exyld, 
And Juflice ring, and Lordis keip thair fay 
Unto thair Soverane Lord baith nicht and day." 

And with that word he vaneill, and I woke. 

Syne throw the fchaw my journey hamewart tuke. 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW. 



The hie prudence, and wirking mervelous, 
The profound wit of God Omnipotent, 

Is fo perfyte, and fo ingenious, 
Excelland far all mannis jugement. 
For quhy? to Him all thing is ay prefent, 

Richt as it is, or ony tyme fall be, 

Befoir the ficht of his Divinitie. 

Thairfoir our faull with fenfualitie 

So fetterit is in prefoun corporall, 
We may nocht cleirlie underftand, nor fe 10 

God as he is, nor thingis Celefliall. 

Our mirk and deidlie corps materiall, 
Blindis the fpirituall operatioun, 
Lyke as ane man wer bundin in prefoun. 

In metaphilik Ariftotell fayis, 

That mannis faull is lyke ane bakkis ee, 
Quhilk lurkis flill as lang as licht of day is, 

And in the gloming cummis furth to fle ; 

Hir ene ar waik, the fone fcho may nocht fe : 
So is our faull with phantafie oppreft, 20 

To knaw the thingis in nature manifeft. 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW. 169 



For God is in his power infinite, 

And mannis faull is febili and oner fmall, 

Of underflanding waik and unperfite, 
To comprehend Him that contenis all : 
None fuld prefume be relToun naturall 

To feirche the fecreitis of the Trinitie, 

Bot trow fermelie, and lat dirk reflbunis be. 

Yit nevertheles we may haif knawlegeing 

Of God Almychtie, be his creatouris, 30 

That he is gude, fair, wyis, and bening, 
Exempill takis be thir jolye flouris, 
Rycht fweit of fraell, and plefant of colouris, 

Sum grene, fum blew, fum purpour, quhyte and reid, 

Thus diflribute be gift of his Godheid. 

The firmament payntit with flernis cleir. 
From eifl to well roUand in cirkill round, 

And everilk planet in his proper fpheir. 

In moving makand harmonie and found. [40 
The fyre, the air, the watter, and the ground, 

Till underlland it is aneuch, I wis. 

That God in all his warkis wittie is. 

Luke Weill the fifche that fvrimmis in the fe ; 

Luke Weill in eirth all kynd of belliall; 
The foullis fair fa forcelie thay fle, 

Scheddand the air with pennis greit and fmall ; 

Syne hike to man, that God maid lafl of all, 
Lyke to his image, and his fimilitude : 
Be thir we knaw that God is fair and gude. 



170 THE FABLES OP ESOPE. 



All Creatoures he maid for the behufe 50 

Of man, and till his fupportatioun, 

In to this eirth, baith under and abufe, 
In number, wecht, and dew proportioun, 
The difference of tyme, and ilk feafoun, 

Coneordand till our opportunitie. 

As dayh'e be experience we may fe. 

The Somer with his jolye mantill of grene. 
With flouris fair furrit on everilk fent, 

Quhilk Flora, goddes of the flouris queue, 

Hes to that lord, as for his feafoun lent; 60 
And Phebus, with his goldin bemis gent, 

Hes purfellit, and payntit plefandlie. 

With heit and moyfture flilland from the fky. 

Syne Harveft hait, when Ceres that goddefs, 
Hir barnis beinit hes with abundance ; 

And Bacchus, god of wyne, renewit hes 
The tunie pypes in Italic and France, 
With wynis wicht, and liquour of plefance; 

And Copia temporis to fill hir home, [70 

That never wes full of quheit, nor uther corne. 

Syne Wynter wan, quhen aullern Eolus, 
God of the wynd, with blaflis boreall. 

The grene garmont of Somer glorious 
Hes all to rent and revin in pecis fmall; 
Than flouris fair, faidit with frofl, mon fall. 

And birdis blyith changit thair noitis fweit, 

In Hill murning, neir flane with fnaw and fleit. 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW. 171 



Thir daillis deip with dubbis drownit is, 
Baith hill and holt heillit with froilis hair ; 

And bewis bene are laiffit bair of blis, 80 

Be wickit windis of the Winter wair. 
All wyld beiflis than from the bentis bair, 

Drawis for dreid unto their dennis deip, 

Coucheand for cauld in coifis thame to keip. 

Syne cummis Yer, quhen Winter is away, 
The fecretar of Somer with his feill, 

Quhen columbine up keikis throw the clay, 
Quhilk fleit wes befoir with froilis feill. 
The maveis and the merle beginnis to mell; 

The lark on loft, with uther birdis fmaU, 90 

Than drawis furth fra derne, ouer doun and daill. 

That famin feafoun, in to ane foft morning, 
Richt blyith that bitter blaflis wer ago, 

Unto the wod to fe the flouris fpring. 
And heir the maveis fing, and birdis mo, 
I paffit furth, fyne lukit to and fro, 

To fe the foyll, that wes richt feffonabill, 

Sappie, and to refaif all feidis abill. 

Muving thus gait greit mirth I tuke in mynd, 
Of lauboraris to fe the belines, 100 

Sum makand dyke, and fum the pleuch can wynd, 
Sum fawand feidis fall, from place to place, 
The harrowis hoppand in the faweris trace : 

It wes greit joy to him that luifit corne. 

To fe thame laubour, baith at evin and morne. 



172 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



And as I baid under ane bank full bene, 
In hart greitlie rejofit of that ficht, 

Unto ane hedge, under ane hawthorne grene, 
Of fmall Birdis thair come ane ferlie flicht. 
And doun belyif can on the leifis licht, 110 

On everilk fyde about me quhair I ftude, 

Richt mervelous ane mekill multitude. 

Amang the quhilkis, ane Swallow loud couth cry, 
On that hawthorne hie in the croip fittand : 

" O ye Birdis on be wis heir me by, 

Ye fall Weill knaw, and wyiflie underfland, 
Quhair danger is, or perrell appeirand. 

It is greit wifedome to provyde befoir, 

It to devoid, for dreid it hurt yow moir. [120 

" Schir SwaUow," quod the Lark agane, and leuch, 
" Quhat haif ye fene, that caufis yow to dreid ?" 

" Se ye yon churll," quod fcho, " beyond yon pleuch, 
Fafl fa wand hemp, and gude linget feid? 
Yone lint will grow in lytill tyme in deid. 

And thairof will yone churll his nettis mak, 

Under the quhilk he thinkis us to tak. 

" Thairfoir I reid we pas quhen he is gone, 
At evin, and with our naillis fcharp and fmall, 

Out of the eirth fcraip we yone feid anone, 130 
And eit it up, for gif it growis, we fall 
Haif caufe to weip heirefter ane and all. 

See we remeid thairfoir furthwith inllante. 

Nam levius Isedit quicquid prsevidimus ante. 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW. 173 



" For clerkis fayis, it is nocht fufficient, 
To confidder that is befoir thyne ee, 

Bot prudence is ane inward argument, 
That garris ane man provyde and foirfe, 
Quhat gude, quhat evill, as likelie for to be, 

Of everilk thing even at the finall end, 140 

And fwa fra perrell the better him defend." 

The Lark lauchand, the Swallow thus couth fcorne. 
And faid " Scho fifchit lang befoir the net ; 

The bairne is eith to bufk that is unborne; 
All growis nocht that in the ground is fet; 
The nek to lloup when it the ftraik fall get 

Is fone aneuch; deith on the fayefl fall." 

Thus fcornit thay the Swallow ane and all. 

Defpyfing thus hir helthfum document, 

The Foullis ferlie tuke thair flicht anone, 150 

Sum with ane bir thay braidit ouer the bent, 
And fum agane ar to the grene wod gone. 
Upon the land quhair I wes left allone, 

I tuke my club, and hamewart couth I carye, 

Swa ferliand, as I had fene ane farye. 

Thus paffit furth quhill June that jolye tyde, 
And feidis that wer fawin of beforne, 

Wer growin heich, that Hairis mycht thame hyde. 
And als the Quailzie craikand in the corne; 
I movit furth betuix midday and morne, 160 

Unto the hedge, under the hawthorne grene, 

Quhair I befoir the faid Birdis had fene. 



174 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



And as I flude be a venture and cace, 
The famin Birdis as I haif faid yow air, 

I hoip, becaufe it wes thair banting place, 
Mair of fuccour, or yit mair folitair, 
Thay lychtit doun ; and quhen thay lychtit war, 

The Swallow fwyith put furth ane pietuous pyme, 

Said, " Wo is him can nocht be war in tyme ! 

" O, blind Birdis ! and full of negligence, 170 
UnmyndfuU of your awin profperitie, 

Lift up your ficht, and tak gude advertence, 
Luke to the lint that growis on yone le, 
Yone is the thing, I bad, forfuith, that we, 

Quhill it wes feid, fuld rute furth of the eird, 

Now is it lint; now is it heich on breird. 

** Go yit, quhill it is tender, young and fmall. 
And pull it up, let it na mair incres ; 

My flefche growis, my bodie quaikis all ; 

Thinkand on it I may nocht fleip in peis." 180 
Thay cryit all, and bad the Swallow ceis, 

And faid, " Yone lint heirefter will do gude, 

For linget is to lytill birdis fude. 

*' Me think, quhen that yone lint-bollis ar rype, 
To mak us feist, and fill us of the feid, 

Maugre yone churll, and on it fing and p}^e/' 
" Weill," quod the Swallow, " freindis hardilie 

beid. 
Do as ye will, bot certane fair I dreid, 

Heirefter ye fall find als four, as fweit, 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW. 175 



Quhen ye ar fpeldit on yone carlis fpeit. 190 

" The awner of yone lint ane Fouler is, 
Richt eautelous, and full of fubteltie ; 

His pray full fendill tymis will he mifs, 
Bot gif we birdis all the warare be ; 
Full mony of our kin he hes gart de, 

And thocht it bot ane fport to fpill thair blude, 

God keip me fra him, and the Halie Rude." 

Thir fmall Birdis haifand bot lytill thocht 
Oflf perrell, that micht fall be aventure. 

The counfall of the Swallow fet at nocht, 200 
Bot tuke thair flicht, and furth togidder fure; 
Sum to the wod, fum markit to the mure. 

I tuke my flaf, quhen this wes faid and done, 

And walkit liame, for it drew neir hand none. 

The lint ryipit, the carll puUit the lyne, 
Rippillit the bollis, and in beitis fet, 

It fleipit in the burne, and "dryit fyne, 
And with ane betill knokkit it, and bett. 
Syne fwingillit it weill, and hekkillit in the flet. 

His wyfe it fpan, and twynit it in to threid, 210 

Of quhilk the Fowlar nettis war maid in deid. 

The wynter come, the wickit wind can blaw, 
The woddis grene wer wallowit with the weit, 

Baith firth and fell with froiflis wer maid faw, 
Slonkis and flaik maid flidderie with the fleit; 
The fouUis fair for fait thay fell off feit. 



176 THE FABLES OF ESOPE, 



On bewis bair it wes na bute to byde, 
Bot hyit unto houfis tharae to hyde. 

Sum in the barn, fum in the flak of corne, 
Thair lugeing tuke, and maid thair refidenee. 220 

The Fowlar faw, and greit aithis hes fworne, 
Thay fuld be tane trewlie for thair expence. 
His nettis hes he fet with diligence, 

And in the fnaw he fchulit hes ane plane, 

And heillit it all ouer with calf agane. 

Thir fmall Birdis feand the calf wes glaid, 

Trowand it had been corne, thay lychtit doun ; 

Bot of the nettis na prefume thay had. 
Nor of the Fowlaris fals intentioun. 
To fcraip and feik thair meit thay maid thame 
boun. 230 

The Swallow on ane lytill branche neir by, 

Dreidand for gyle, thus loud on thame couth cry : 

" In to that calf, fcraip quhill your naillis bleid, 
Thair is na corne, ye laubour all in vane; 

Trow ye yone churll for pietie wiU yow feid ? 
Na, na, he hes it heir layit for ane trane; 
Eemove, I raid, or ellis ye will be flane : 

His nettis he hes fet full prively, 

Reddie to draw, in tyme be war forthy. 

" Greit fule is he that puttis in dangeir 240 

His lyfe, his honour, for ane thing of nocht; 
Greit fule is he that will nocht glaidlie heir 



THE PREICIIING OF THE SWALLOW. 177 



Counfal in tyme, quhill it availl him mocht. 

Greit fule is lie that hes no thing in thocht 
But thing prefent ; and efter quhat may fall, 
Nor of the end hes no memoriall, 

Thir fmall Birdis for hunger famifchit neir, 
Full belie fcraipand for to feik thair fude, 

The counfall of the Swallow wald nocht heir, 
Suppois thair laubour did thame lytill gude. 
Quhen fcho thair fulifche hartis underftude, 250 

Sa indurate, up in ane tre fcho flew ; 

With that this Churll ouer thame his nettis drew. 

Allace ! it was rycht greit hairt-fair to fe 
That bludie boucheour beit thay Birdis doun. 

And for till heir, quhen thay will weill to de, 
Thair cairfuU fang and lamentatioun : 
Sum with ane flaff he llraik to eirth on fwoun, 

Of fum the heid he brak, of fum the crag, 

Sum half on lyfe, he ftoppit in his bag. 

And quhen the Swallow faw that thay wer 

deid, 260 

*' Lo ! " quod fcho, " thus it happinnis mony 

fyis, 

On thame that will nocht tak counfall nor reid 
Of prudent men, or clerkis that ar wyis : 
This greit perrell I tauld thame mair than 
thryis ; 
Now ar thay deid, and wo is me thairfoir ! — " 
Scho tuke hir flicht, bot hir I ftiw no moir. 

M 



178 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



MORALITAS. 



Lo, worthie folk! Efope, that nobill Clerk, 
Ane Poet worthie to be Lavvreat, 

Quhen that he waikit from mair autentik werk, 
With uther ma, this foirfaid Fabill wrait ; 270 
Quhilk at this tyme may weill be applieate, 

To gude morall edificatioun, 

Haifand ane fentence according to reffoun. 

This Carl and Bond of gentrice fpoliat, 
Sawand this caffe, thir fmall Birdis to fla, 

It is the Feind, quhilk fra the Angelike flait 
Exylit is, as fals apoftata: 
Quhilk day and nycht weryis nocht for to ga 

Sawand poyfoun in mony wickit thocht, 

In mannis fauU, quhilk Chrifl full deir hes bocht. 280 

And quhen the fauU, as feid in to the eird, 

Gevis confent unto delectatioun, 
The wickit thocht beginnis for to breird 

In deidlie fin, quhilk is dampnatioun : 

Reffoun is blindit with affectioun, 
And carnall lufl growis full grene and gay. 
Throw eonfuetude hantit from day to day. 

Proceding furth be ufe and eonfuetude. 
The fin ryipis, and fchame is fet on fyde; 

The Feind plettis his nettis feharp and rude, 290 
And under plefance previlie dois hyde, 



THE PREICHING QP THE SWALLOW. 179 



Syne on the feild he fa wis cafFe full wyde, 
Quhilk is bot tume and verray vanitie, 
Of flefehlie liifl, and vaine profperitie. 

Thir hungrie Birdis, wretcliis we may call, 
Ay fcraipand in this warldis vaine plefanee, 

Gredie to gadder gudis temporal!, 

Quhilk as the cafFe ar tume without fubftance, 
Lytill of availl, and full of variance, 

Lyke to the mow befoir the face of wind 300 

Quhifkis away, and makis wretchis blind. 

This Swallow, quhilk efchaipit hes the fnair, 
The halie Preicheour weill may fignifie, 

Exhortand folk to walk, and ay be war 
Fra nettis of our wickit enemie. 
Quha fleipis nocht, but ever is reddie, 

Quhen wretchis in this warldis wrak dois fcraip. 

To draw his net, that thay may nocht efchaip. 

Allace! quhat cair, quhat weiping is and wo, 
Quhen faull and bodie departit ar in twane ; 310 

The bodie to the wormis keiching go. 
The faull to fyre and everlaflaiid pane: 
Quhat helpis than this caffe, thir gudis vane, 

Quhen thow art put in Luciferis bag, 

And brocht to hell, and hangit be the crag, 

Thir hid nettis for to perfave and fe. 

This farie caffe wyiflie to underflandj 
Bell is be war in maift profperitie, 



180 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



For in this warld thair is na thing leftand, 
Is na man wair how lang his llait will fland, 320 
His lyfe will left, nor how that he fall end, 
Efter his deith nor quhidder he fall wend. 

Pray we thairfoir quhill we ar in this lyfe, 
For foure thingis: the firft, fra fin remiife; 

The fecund is, to ceifs all weir and ftryfe; 
The thrid is, perfite cheritie and lufe; 
The feird thing is, and maifl for our behufe, 

That is in bliss with angellis to be fallow : 

And thus endis the Preiching of the Swallow. 



THE TAILL OF THE WOLF THAT GAT THE 
NEK-HERING THROW THE WRINKIS 
OF THE FOXE THAT BEOYLIT THE 
CADGEAR. 



QuHYLUM thair wynnit in ane wildernes, 
As myne Authour exprefflie can declair, 

Ane revand Wolf, that levit upon purches, 
On befliall, and maid him weill to fair; 
Was nane fa big about him he wald fpair. 

And he war hungrie, outher for favour or feid, 

Bot in his wraith he weryit thame to deid. 

Swa happinnit him in watching as he went, 
To meit ane Foxe in middis of the way ; 

He him foirfaw, and fenyeit to be fchent, 10 

And with ane bek, he bad the Wolf gude day. 
" Welcum to me," quod he, " thow ruffell gray :" 

Syne loutit doun, and tuke him be the hand, 

" Ryfe up, Lowrence, I leif thee for to ftand. 

" Quhair hes thow bene this fefoun fra my iicht ? 

Thow fall beir office, and my ftewart be, 
For thow can knap down caponis on the nicht, 

And lowrand law thow can gar hennis de." 



182 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



" Schir," faid the Foxe, " that ganis nocht for me : 
And I am raid, gif thay me fe on far, 20 

That at my figure beift and bird will fkar." 

*' Na, " quod the Wolf, *• thow can in covert creip 
Upon thy wame, and hint thame be the heid; 

And mak ane fuddand fchow upon ane fcheip. 
Syne with thy wappinnis wirrie him to deid." 
" Schir," faid the Foxe, " ye knaw my robe is 
reid. 

And thairfoir thair will na beift abyde me, 

Thocht I wald be fa fals as for to hyde me/' 

*' Yes ;" quod the Wolf, " throw bufkis and throw 
brayes, 
Law can thow loure, to cum to thy intent." 30 
" Schir," faid the Foxe, " ye wait weill how it 
gais, 
Ane lang fpace fra thame thay will feill my fent, 
Than will thay efchaip, fuppois I fuld be fchent ; 
And I am fchamefuU for to cum behind thame. 
In to the feild, thocht I fuld fleipand find them/' 

'' Na, " quod the Wolf, " thow can cum on the 
wind; 
For everie wrink, forfuith, thow lies ane wyle/' 
'* Schir," faid the Foxe, " that beift ye micht call 
blind, 
That micht nocht efchaip than fra me ane myle. 
How micht I ane of thame that wyis begyle ? 40 
My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray ene. 



THE WOLF, THE FOXE AND THE CADGEAR. 183 



Garris me be kend, quhair I wes never fene." 

" Than," liiid the Wolf, " Lowrence, I heir thee lie, 
And caflis for perrellis thy ginnis to defend, 

Bot all thy fonyeis fall nocht availl thee. 

About the bufk with wayis thocht thow wend : 
Falfet will failye ay at the latter end 

To bow at bidding, and byde nocht quhill thow 
brefl, 

Thairfoir I gif thee counfall for the befl." 

*' Schir," faid the Foxe, " it is Lentren ye fe, 50 
And I can nouther fifche with huke nor net. 

To tak ane baneflikill, thocht we baith fuld de, 
I had nane uther craft to win my meit; 
Bot wer it Pafche, that men fuld pultrie eit, 

As kiddis, lambis, or caponis in to ply. 

To beir your office than wald I nocht fet by." 

" Than," faid the Wolf, in wraith, '* wenis thow 
with wylis. 
And with thy mony mowis me to mate? 
It is ane auld dog doutles that thow begylis; 
Thou wenis to draw the flra befoir the cat ! " 60 
" Schir," faid the Foxe, " God wait, I mene 
nocht that; 
For and I did, it wer weill worth that ye, 
In ane reid raip had tyit me till ane tre. 

'' Bot now I fe, he is ane fule perfay, 
That with his maifler fallis in reffoning, 



184 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



I did bot till affay quhat ye wald fay : 

God wait my mynd vres on ane utlier thing: 
I fall fulfill in all thing your bidding ; 
Quhat ever ye charge on nichtis or on dayis." 
" Weill ;" quod the Wolf, " I wait weill quhat thow 
fayis. 70 

" Bot yit I will, thow mak to me ane aith, 
For to be leill attour all levand leid." 

*' Schir," faid the Foxe, " that ane word makis me 
wraith, 
For now, I fe, ye half me at ane dreid: 
Yit fall I fweir, fuppois it be nocht neid, 

Be Juppiter, and on pane of my heid, 

I fall be trew to yow, quhill I be deid." 

With that ane Cadgear, with capill and with creillis, 
Come carpand furth, than Lowrenee culd him fpy, 

The Foxe the flewar of the frefche herring feillis, 80 
And to the Wolf he roundis privelie: 
" Sir, yone ar hering the Cadgear caryis by, 

Thairfoir I reid, that we fe for fum wayis, 

To get fum fifche aganis thir fafting dayis. 

" Sen I am flewart, I wald we had fum Huff, 
And ye ar filver-feik, I wait richt weill; 

Thocht we wald thig, yone verray ehurlifche chuff, 
He will nocht gif us ane hering of his creill, 
Befoir yone churle on kneis thocht we wald kneill, 

But yit I trow alfone that ye fall fe, 90 

Gif I can craft, to bleir yone carllis ee. 



THE WOLF, THE FOXE AND THE CADGEAR, 185 



'• Schir, ane thing is, and we get of yone pelf. 
Ye mon tak travell, and mak us fum fupple ; 

For he that will nocht laubour and help him felf. 
In to thir dayis he is nocht worth ane fle : 
I think to wirk as beiie as ane be; 

And ye fall follow ane lytill efterwart, 

And gadder liering, for that fall be your part." 

With that he keft ane compas far about, [100 
And flraucht him doun in middis of the way, 

As he wer deid, he fenyeit him but dout, 
And than upon ane lenth unliklie lay, 
The quhyte of his ene he turnit up in tway ; 

His toung out hang ane handbreid of his heid, 

And flill he lay, als flraught as he wer deid. 

The Cadgear fand the Foxe, and he wes fane, 
And till him felf, thus foftlie can he fay, 

" At the nixt bait in faith ye fall be flane, 
And of your skyn I faU mak mittennis tway." 
He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay, 110 

And aU the trace he trippit on his tais. 

As he had heard ane pyper play, he gais. 

" Heir lyis the Deuill," quod he, " deid in ane dyke. 
Sic ane felcouth faw I nocht this fevin yeir; 

I trow ye haif bene tuffiUit with fum tyke. 
That garris yow ly fa flill withouttin fleir: 
Schir Foxe, in faith, ye ar deir welcum heir; 

It is fum wyfis malifone, I trow. 

For pultrie pyking that lychtit hes on yow. 



186 THE FABLES OP ESOPE. 



" Thair fall naPedder, for purs, nor yit for gluifis, 120 
Nor yit for poyntis, pyke your pellet fra me ; 

I fall of it mak mittennis to my luifis, 

Till hald my handis hait quhair euer I be ; 
Till Flanderis fall it never faill the fe." 

With that in hy, he hint him be the heillis, 

And with ane fwak he fwang him on the creillis. 

Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint; 
The fraudfull Foxe thairto gude tent hes tane, 

And with his teith the ftoppell or he ftint 

PuUit out, and fyne the hering ane and ane 130 
Out of the creillis he fwakkit doun gude wane. 

The Wolf wes war, and gadderit fpedilie ; 

The Cadgear fang, Hunts up, up, upon hie. 

Yit at the burne the Cadgear luikit about, 
With that the Foxe lap quyte the creillis fra. 

The Cadgear wald haif raucht the Foxe ane rout, 
Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day : 
Than with ane fchout, thus can the Cadgear fay, 

" Abyde, and thow ane Nek-hering fall haif. 

Is worth my capill, creillis, and all the laif." 140 

" Now," quod the Foxe, *' I fchrew me and we meit, 
I heard what thou hecht to do w^ith my skin : 

Thy handis fall never in thay mittennis tak heit, 
And thow wer hangit, carll, and all thy kyn. 
Do furth thy mercat ; at me thow fall nocht wyn ; 

And fell thy hering thow hes thair till hie price, 

Ellis thow fall wyn nocht on thy merchandice." 



THE WOLF, THE FOXE AND THE CADGEAR. 187 

The Cadgear trirnillit for teyne quhair that he flude. 
" It is Weill worthie," quod he, " I want yone 
tyke, 

That had nocht in my hand fa mekill gude, 150 
As ftaf, or fling, yone truker for to flryke." 
With that lychtlie he lap out ouer ane dyke, 

And hakkit doun ane flaf, for he wes tene. 

That hevie wes, and of the holyne grene. 

With that the Foxe unto the Wolf couth wend, 
And fand him be the hering, quhair he lyis, 

" Schir," faid he than, '* maid I nocht fair defend ? 
Ane wicht man wantit never, and he wer wyis, 
Ane hardie hairt is hard for to fuppryis." 

" Than," faid the Wolf, " thou art ane barne full 
bald, 160 

And wyfe at wiU, in gude tyme be it tald. 

" But quhat wes yone the carll cryit on hie, 
And fchuke his hand" quod he, "hes thow no 
feiU?" 
" Schir," faid the Foxe, " that I can tell trewlie : 
He faid, the Nek-hering wes in the creill." 
" Kennis thow that hering ?" " Yea, Schir, I ken 
it Weill; 
And at the creiU mouth, I had it thryis but dout ; 
The wecht of it neir tit my tuskis out. 

" Now, fuirlie, Schir, might we that hering fang, 

It wald be fifche to us thir fourtie day is." 170 

Than faid the Wolf, " Now God nor that I hang^ 



188 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Bot to be thair, I wald gif all my clais, 
To fe gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais." 

" Scliir/' faid the Foxe, " God wait, I wifchit 
yow oft, 

Quhen that my pith micht nocht beir it on loft. 

"It is ane fyde of falmond, as it wer. 
And callour, pypand lyke ane pertrik ee; 

It is worth all the hering ye haif thair, 

Yea, and we had it fwa, it is worth fie thre." 

" Than,'* faid the Wolf, " quhat counfell gevis 

thow me V 180 

" Schir,** faid the Foxe, " wirk efter my devyis, 

And ye fall haif it, and tak yow na fuppryis. 

" Firft, ye mon cafl ane compas far about, 

Syne fi^raucht yow doun in middis of the way ; 

Baith held, and feit, and taill ye mon flreik out, 
Hing furth your toung, and clois weill your ene 

tway. 
Syne fe your held on ane hard place ye lay ; 

And dout nocht for na perrell may appeii*, 

Bot hald 3^ow clois quhen that the carll cummis neir. 

" And thocht ye fe ane flaf, haif ye na dout, 190 
Bot hald yow wonder flill in to that fleid; 

And luke your ene be clois, as thay wer out. 
And fe that ye fchrink nouther fute nor held ; 
Than will the Cadgear carll trow ye be deid ; 

And in till haift will hint yow be the heillis, 

As he did me, and fwak yow on his creillis."' 



THE WOLF, THE FOXE AND THE CADGEAll. 189 



" Now," quod the Wolf, " I fweir thee be my thrift, 
I trow, yone Cadgear carll dow nocht me beir." 

" Sehir," faid the Foxe, " on loft he will yow lift. 
Upon his creillis, and do him lytill deir. 200 
Bot ane thing dar I fuithlie to yow fweir, 

Get ye that hering ficker in fum place. 

Ye fall not fair in fifching mair quhill Pafche. 

" I fall fay * In principio' upon yow. 

And croce your corpis from the top to ta: 

Wend quhen ye will, I dar be warrand now. 
That ye fall de no fuddand deith this day." 
With that the Wolf gird up fone and to ga, 

And caifl ane compas about the Cadgear far, 

Syne flraught him in the gait or he come nar. 210 

He laid his halfheid ficker hard and fad. 

Syne draught his four feit fra him, and his heid. 

And hang his toung furth as the Foxe him bad, 
Als flill he lay, as he wer verray deid, 
Rakkand na thing of the carllis favour nor feid, 

Bot ever upon the Nek-hering he thinkis. 

And quyte forgettis the Foxe and all his wrinkis. 

With that the Cadgear, wavering als the wind. 
Come rydand on the laid, for it wes licht, 

Thinkand ay on the Foxe that wes behind, 220 
Upon quhat wyfe, revenge him beft he micht ; 
And at the lafl, of the Wolf gat ane ficht, 

Quhair he in lenth lay flreikit in the gait. 

But gif he lichtit doun, or nocht, God wait. 



190 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Softlie he faid, " I was begylit anis, 
Be I begylit twyis, I fchrew us baith, 

That evill bot it fall licht upon thy banis, 

He fuld half had that hes done me the skaith." 
On hicht he hovit the flaf, for he wes wraith, 

And hit him with fie will upon the heid, 230 

Quhill neir he fwounit, and fwelt in to that fteid. 

Thre battis he bure, or he his feit mycht find, 
Bot yit the Wolf wes wicht, and wan away; 

He micht not fe, he wes fa verray blind, 

Nor wit reddilie quhither it wes nicht or day. 
The Foxe beheld that fervice quhair he lay, 

And leuch on loft, quhen he the Wolf fa feis, 

Baith deif, and dofinnit, fall fwounand on his kneis. 

He that of reflbun can nocht be content, 

Bot covetis all, is abill all to tyne: 240 

The Foxe, quhen that he faw the Wolf was fchent, 
Said to him felf, thir herring fall be myne; 
I lie, or ellis he wes efterwart fyne. 

That fand fie wayis his Maiflier for to greif : 

With all the fifche thus Lowrence tuke his leif. 

The Wolf was neir weill dungin to the deid. 
That uneith with his lyfe away he wan, 

For with the bafl)Oun weill brokin wes his heid ; 
The Foxe in to his den fone drew him than, 
That had betraifit his Maifler and the man : 250 

The ane, wantit the hering of his creillis. 

The utheris blude was rynnand ouer his heillis. 



THE WOLF, THE FOXE AND THE CADGEAR. 191 



MORALITAS. 

This taill is myngit with moralitie, 

As I fall fchaw fumquhat, or that I ceis : 

The Foxe unto the Warld may likkinnit be, 
The revand Wolf, unto ane Man but leis, 
The Cadgear, Deith, quhome under all men preis, 

That euer tuke lyfe, throw cours of kynd mon dee. 

As man, and beill, and fifche in to the fee. 

The Warld, ye wait, is flewart to the man, 260 
Quhilk makis man to haif na mynd of deid, 

Bot fettis for winning all the craftis thay can ; 
The Hering I likkin unto the Grold fa reid, 
Quhilk gart the Wolf in perrell put his heid ; 

Richt fwa the gold garris land and cieteis, 

With weir be waillit, daylie as men feis. 

And as the Foxe, with diffimulance and gyle, 

Gart the Wolf wene to have worfehip for ever, 
Richt fwa this Warld, with vane glore for ane 
quhyle, 
Flatteris with folk, as thay fuld failyie never ; 270 
Yit fuddandlie men feis it oft diffever. 
With thame that trowis oft to fill the fek, 
Deith cummis behind, and nippis thame be the 
nek. 

The micht of gold makis mony men fti blind. 
That fettis on Avarice thair felicitie, 



192 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



That tliay foryet the Cadgear cummis behind 
To flrike thame, of qutiat flait fa ever thay be. 
Quhat is mair dirk than blind profperitie ? 
Quhairfoir I counfell mychtie men to haif mynd, 
Of the Nek-Hering interpreit in this kynd. 280 



THE TAILL OF THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT 
THE WOLF IN THE SCHADOW OF THE 
MONE. 



In elderis dayis, as Esope can declair, 

Thaii' wes ane Husband, quhilk had the pleuch in 
steir. 

His use wes ay in morning to ryse air. 

Sa happinnit him in streiking tyme of yeir, 
Airlie in the morning to follow furth his feir, 

Unto the pleuch, bot his Gadman and he. 

His stottis he straucht with Benedicite. 

The Caller cryit, " How, haik, upon hicht, 

Hald draucht my dowis/' syne broddit thame full 
sair. 

The oxin wes unusit, young, and licht, 10 

And for fersnes thay couth the fur forfair. 
The Husband than woxe angrie as ane hair. 

Syne cryit, and caist his patill, and greit stanis. 

" The Wolf," quod he, " mot haif yow all at anis." 

Bot yit the Wolf wes neirar nor he wend. 

For in ane busk he lay, and Lowrence baith, 
In ane rouch rone wes at the furris end, 

N 



194 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



And hard the hecht : than Lowrence leueh full 
raith. 

" To tak yone bud," quod he, " it wer na skaith." 
" Weill," quod the Wolf, "I hecht thee be ray hand, 20 
Yone Carllis word as he wer King sail stand." 

The oxin eirit mair reullie at the last. 

Syne efter thay lousit, fra that it worthit weill lait, 

The Husband hamewart with his cattell past. 
Than sone the Wolf come hirpilland in his gait 
Befoir the oxin, and schupe to mak debait. 

The Husband saw him, and worthit sumdeill agast, 

And bakwart with his beistis wald half past. 

The Wolf said, " Quhether dryvis thow this, pray ? 
I challenge it, for nane of thame ar thyne." 30 

The man thairof wes in ane felloun fray, 
And soberlie to the Wolf answerit syne: 
" Schir, be niy sauU, thir oxin are all myne ; 

Thairfoir I studie quhy ye suld stop me, 

Sen that I faltit never to yow, trewlie." 

The Wolf said, " Carll, gaif thow not me this drift 
Airlie, quhen thow wes eirand on yone bank ? 

And is thair oucht (sayis thow) frear than gift? 
This tarying will tyne thee all thy thank. 
Far better is frelie for to gif ane plank, 40 

Nor be compellit on force to gif ane mart. 

Fy ! on the fredome that cummis not with hart." 

" Schir,"quod theHusband, "ane man maysay in greif, 



THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT THE WOLF. 195 



And syne ganesay, fra he avise and se : 
I hecbt to steill, am I tliairfoir ane theif ? 

G-od forbid, Schir ! all hechtis suld haldin be. 

Gaif I my hand or oblissing ? " quod he ; 
" Or haif ye witnes, or writ for to schaw ? 
Schir, reif me not, bot go and seik the law." 

" Carll,'* quod the Wolf, " ane Lord, and he be leill, 50 
That schrinkis for shame, or doutis to be reprufit. 

His saw is ay als sickker as his seill. 

Fy ! on the leid that is not leill and luifit. 
Thy argument is fals, and eik contrufit ; 

For it is said in Proverb, But lawt^ 

All other vertewis ar nocht worth ane fle." 

" Schir," said the Husband, " remember of this thing : 
Ane leill man is not tane at half ane taill. 

I may say, and ganesay, I am na King. 

Quhar is your witnes, that hard I hecht thame 

haill?" 60 

Than said the Wolf, " Thairfoir it sail nocht faill : 

Lowrence," quod he, " cum bidder of that schaw, 

And say na thing bot as thow hard and saw." 

Lowrence come lourand, for he luifit never licht, 
And sone appeirit befoir thame in that place. 

The man leuch na thing quhen he saw that sicht. 
" Lowrence," quod the Wolf, " thow man declair 

this cace, 
Quhairof we sail schaw the suith in schort space. 

I callit on thee, leill witnes for to beir : 



196 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Quhat h?rd thow that this Man hecht me lang 
eir?" 70 

" Schir," said the Tod, " I can not hastelie 
Swa sone as now gif the sentence finall ; 

Bot wald ye baith submit yow heir to me, 
To stand at my deereit perpetual!, 
To pleis baith I suld preif, gif it may fall." 

" Weill," quod the Wolf, " I am content for me." 

The Man said, " Swa am I, how ever it be." 

Than schew thay furth thair allegeance but fabill. 
And baith proponit thair pley to him compleit. 

Quod Lowrence, " I am ane Juge amycabill : 80 
Ye sail be sworne to stand at my deereit, 
Quhether heirefter ye think it soure or sweit." 

The Wolf braid furth his fute, the Man his hand ; 

And on the Toddis taill sworne thay ar to stand. 

Then tuke the Tod the Man furth till ane syde. 
And said him, "Freind, thow art in blunder brocht : 

The Wolf will not forgif the ane oxe hyde ; 
Yit wald my self fane help thee, and I mocht ; 
Bot I am laith to hurt my conscience ocht. 

Tyne not thy querrell in thy awin defence : 90 

This will not throw, but greit coist and expence. 

" Seis thow not buddis beiris bernis throw. 

And giftis garris crukit raateris hald full evin ? 

Sumtymis ane nedill haldis ane man in ane row. 
All ar not halie that heifis thair handis to hevin." 



THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT THE WOLF. 197 



" Schir," said the Man, *' ye sail half sex or sevin 
Riclit of the fattest hennis of all the floik ; 
I compt not all the laif, leif me the coik." 

*' I am ane Juge," quod Lowrence than, and leuch ; 
" Thair is na buddis suld beir me by the 

rycht. 100 

I may tak hennis and caponis vveill aneuch, 
For God is gane to sleip ; as for this nycht. 
Sic small thingis ar not sene in to his sycht. 

Thir hennis," quod he, "sail mak thy querrell sure 

With eraptie hand na man suld halkis lure." 

Concordit thus, than Lowrence tuk his leif. 
And to the Wolf he went in to ane ling ; 

Syne privilie he plukkit him be the sleif : 

" Is this in ernist," quod he, " ye ask sic thing ? 
Na, be my saul, I trow it be in heithing." 110 

Than said the Wolf, " Lowrence, quhy sayis thow 
sa? 

Thow hard the hecht thy self, that he couth ma/' 

*' The hecht," quod he, " yone man maid at the 
pleuch, — 
Is that the cause quhy ye the cattell craif ?" 
Half in to heithing, said Lowrence than, and 
leuch. 
•' Schir, be the Rude, unroikkit now ye raif ; 
The devil ane stirk taill thairfoir sail ye haif : 
Wald I tak it upon my conscience 
To do sa pure ane man, as yone, oftence ? 



198 THE FABLES OP ESOPE. 



" Yit haif I commonit with the Carll," quod he, 120 
" We ar concordit upon this cunnand — 

Quyte of all elamis swa ye will mak him fre, 
Ye sail ane cabok haif in to your hand, 
That sic ane sail not be in all this land ; 

For it is sommer cheis, baith fresche and fair : 

He sayis it weyis ane stane, and suradeill mair." 

" Is that thy eounsell," quod the Wolf, " I do, 
That yone Carll for ane cabok suld be fre?" 

" Ya, be my saull, and I wer sworne yow to. 

Ye suld nane other counsell haif for me ; 130 

For gang ye to the maist extremitie, 

It will not wyn yow worth anewidderit neip. 

Schir, trow ye nocht I haif ane saull to keip?" 

" AVeill," quod the Wolf, " it is aganis my will 
That yone Carll for ane cabok suld ga quyte." 

" Schir," quod the Tod, " ye tak it in nane evill ; 
For, be my saull, your self had all the wyte." 
" Than," said the Wolf, " I bid na mair to flyte ; 

Bot I wald se yone cabok of sic pryis." 

*' Schir," said the Tod, " he tauld me quhar it lyis." 

Than hand in hand thay held unto ane hill. 141 
The Husband till his hors hes tane the way ; 

For he wes fane he schaipit from thair evill, 
And on his feit woke the dure quhill day. 
Now will we turne unto the other tway : 

Throw woddis waist thir freikis on fute can fair, 

Fra busk to busk, quhill neir midnycht and mair. 



THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT THE WOLF. 199 



Lowreiice wes ever remembring upon wrinkis, 
And subtelteis, the Wolf for to begyle. 

That he had hecht ane cabok he forthinkis ; 150 
Yit at the last he findis furth ane wyle, 
Than at him self softlie couth he smyle. 

The Wolf say is, " Lowrence, thow playis bellie- 
blind : 

We seik all nycht, bot na thing can we find." 

" Schir," said the Tod, " we ar at it almaist ; 

Soft yow ane lytill, and ye sail se it sone:" 
Than to ane manore place thay hyit in haist. 

The niclit wes lycht, and penny full the Mone. 

Than till ane draw-well thir senyeoure past but 
hone, 
Quhar that twa bukkettis several suithlie hang ; 160 
As ane come up, ane other doun wald gang. 

The schadow of the mone schone in the well. 

" Schir," said Lowrence, " anis ye sail find me 
leill. 
Now se ye not the caboik weill your sell, 

Quhyte as ane neip, and als round as ane sceill. 

He hang it yonder, that na man suld it steill. 
Schir, traist ye weill, yone caboik ye se hing 
Micht be ane present to our Lord the King." 

" Na," quod the Wolf, " mycht I yone caboik haif 
On the dry land, as T it yonder se, 170 

I wald quitclame the Carll of all the laif. 
His dart oxin I compt thame not ane fle : 



200 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Yone wer mair meit for sic ane man as me. 
Lowrence," quod he, " leip in the bukket sone, 
And I sail hald the ane, quhill thow haif done." 

Lowrence gird doun baith sone and subtellie ; 

The other baid abufe, and held the flaill. 
" It is sa mekill," quod Lowrence, " it maisteris me ; 

On all my tais it hes not left ane naill. 

Ye man mak help upwart, and it haill : 180 

Leip in the other bukket haistelie, 
And cum sone doun, and mak me sum supplie." 

Than lychtlie in the bukket lap the loun ; 
His wecht but weir the other end gart ryis. 

The Tod come hailland up, the Wolf yeid doun ; 
Than angerlie the Wolf upon him cryis : 
" I cummand thus doun wart, quhy thow upwart 
hyis?'' 

** Schir," quod the Tod, " thus fairis it of Fortoun : 

As ane cummis up, scho quheillis ane other doun." 

Than to the ground sone yeid the Wolf in haist ; 

The Tod lap on land, als blyith as ony bell, 
And left the Wolf in watter to the waist. 

Quha haillit him out, I wait not, of the well. 

Heir endis the text, thair is na mair to tell ; 
Yit men may find a good moralitie 195 

In this sentence, thocht it ane Fabill be. 



THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT THE WOLF. 201 



MORALITAS. 

This Wolf I likkin to ane wickit man, 

Quhilk clois the pure oppres in everie place ; 

And pykis at thame all querrellis that he can, 

Be rigour, reif, and other wickitnes. 200 

The Foxe, the Feynd I call in to this cais, 

Actand ilk man to ryn unrychteous rinkis, 

Thinkand thairthrow to lok him in his linkis. 

The Husband may be callit ane godlie man. 

With quhome the Feynd fait findis, as Clerkis reid, 

Besie to tempt him with all wayis that he can. 
The hennis ar warkis that fra ferme faith proceidis : 
Quhar sic sproutis spreidis, the evill spreit thair 
not speid, 

Bot wendis unto the wickit man againe. 

That he hes tint his travell is full unfaine. 210 

The woddis waist, quhairin wes the Wolf wyld, 
Ar wickit riches, quhilk all men gaipis to get : 

Quha traistis in sic trusterie ar oft begyled ; 
For Mammon may be callit the Devillis net, 
Quhilk Sathanas, for all sinfull, hes set. 

With proud plesour quha settis his traist thairin, 

But speciall grace, lychtlie can not out-win. 

The Cabok may be called covetyce, 

Quhilk blomis braid in mony mannis ee, 
Wa worth the well of that wickit vyce ; 220 



202 



THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



For it is all bot fraud and fantassie, 
Dryvand ilk raan to leip in the buttrie 

That dounwart drawis unto the pane of hell. 

Christ keip all Christianis frome that wiekit Well. 



THE TAILL OF THE WOLF AND THE 
WEDDER. 



QuHYLUM thair wes, as Esope can report, 
Ane Scheiphird dwelland be ane forrest neir, 

Quhilk had ane hound that did him greit confort. 
Full war he wes to walk his fauld but weir, 
That nouther wolf nor wildcat durst appeir. 

Nor foxe on feild, nor yit no other beist. 



Sa happinnit it, as everilk beist man de. 
This hound of suddand seiknes to be deid ; 

Bot than, God wait, the keipar of the fe, 10 

For verray wo, woxe wanner nor the weid. 
" Allace," quod he, " now se I na remeid 

To saif the selie beistis that I keip ; 

For wit the Wolf werryit beis all my scheip." 

It wald half maid ane mannis hart sair to se 
The selie Scheiphirdis lamentatioun. 

" Now is my darling deid, allace," quod he, 
" For now to beg my breid I may be boun. 
With pyikstaf and with scrip to fair of toun ; 



204 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



For all the beistis befoir bandonit bene, 20 

Will sehute upon my beistis with ire and tene/* 

With that ane wedder wiechtlie wan on fute : 
" Maister/' quod he, '* mak merie and be blyith ; 

To brek your hart for baill it is na bute. 
For ane deid dog ye na cair on yow kyith. 
Ga feche him hither, and fla his skyn of swyith, 

Syne sew it on rae ; and luke that it be meit, 

Baith heid and crag, bodie, taill, and feit : 

" Than will the Wolf trow that I am he ; 

For I sail follow him fast quhar ever he fair. 30 
All haill the cure I tak it upon me 

Your scheip to keip at midday, lait, and air. 

And he persew, be God, I sail not spair 
To follow him als fast as did your dog ; 
Swa that I warrand ye sail not want ane hog." 

Than said the Scheiphird, " This come of ane gude wit ; 
Thy counsall is baith sikker, leill, and trew. 

Quha sayis ane scheip is daft, thay licit of it." 
With that in hy the doggis skyn of he flew. 
And on the scheip rycht softlie couth it sew. 40 

Than worth the wedder, wantoun of his weid, 

« Now of the Wolf," quod he, " I half na dreid." 

In all thingis he counterfait the dog. 

For all the nicht he stude, and tuke na sleip ; 

Swa that Weill lang thair wantit not ane hog. 
Swa war he wes, and walkryfe, thame to keip. 



THE WOLF AND THE WEDDER. 205 



That Lowrence durst not hike upon ane scheip ; 
For and he did, he followit him sa fast. 
That of his lyfe he maid him all agast. 

Was nouther wolf, wildcat, nor yit tod, 50 

Durst cum within thay boundis all about, 

Bot he wald chaice thame baith throw rouch and 
snod : 
Thay bailfuU beistis had of thair ly vis sic dout ; 
For he wes mekill, and semit to be stout. 

That everilk beist thay dred him as the deid. 

Within that woid, that nane durst hald thair heid. 

Yit happinnit thair ane hungrie Wolf to slyde 
Out throw his scheip, quhair thay lay on ane le. 

" I sail haif ane," quod he, " quhat ever betyde, 
Thocht I be werryit, for hunger, or I de." 60 

With that ane lamb in till his cluke hint he. 

The laif start up, for thay wer all agast ; 

Bot, God wait, gif the Wedder followit fast. 

Went never hound mair haistelie fra the hand 
Quhen he wes rynnand maist raklie at the ra ; 

Nor went this Wedder baith over mois and strand, 
And stoppit nouther at bank, busk, nor bra ; 
Bot followit ay sa ferslie on his fa. 

With sic ane drift, quhill dust and dirt owerdraif 
him. 

And maid ane vow to God that he suld haif him. 70 

With that the Wolf let out his taill on lenth, 



^6 



THE FABLES OF ESOFE. 



For he wes hungrie, and it drew neir the evin ; 
And schupe him for to ryn with all his strenth, 

Era he the Wedder sa neir cummand had sene. 

He dred his lyfe and he overtane had bene : 
Thairfoir he spairit nouther busk nor bog, 
For Weill he kennit the curaming of the dog. 

To mak him lycht, he kest the lamb him fra ; 79 
Syne lap over leis, and draif throw dub and myre. 

" Na/' quod the Wedder, " in faith we part not swa : 
It is not the lamb, bot thee, that I desyre. 
I sal) cum neir, for now I se the tyre." 

The Wolf ran till ane rekill stude behind him, 

Bot ay the neirar the "Wedder he couth bind him. 

Sone efter that he followit him sa neir, 

Quhill that the Wolf for fleidnes fylit the field ; 

Syne left the gait, and ran throw busk and breir, 
And schupe him fra the sehawis for to scheild. 
He ran restles, for he wist of na beild ; 

The Wedder followit him baith out and in, 90 

Quhill that ane brier busk raif rudelie of the skyn. 



The Wolf wes wer, and blenkit him behind. 

And saw the Wedder come thrawand throw the 
breir ; 

Syne saw the Doggis skyn hingand on his lind. 
" Na," quod he, " is this ye that is sa neir ? 
Eicht now ane hound, and now quhyte as ane freir : 

I fled ower fer, and I had kennit the cais : 

To God I vow, that ye sail rew this rais. 



THE WOLF AND THE WEDDER. 207 



** Quhat wes the cause ye gaif me sic ane catche ?" 
With that in hy he hint him be the home. 100 

" For all your mowis, ye met anis with your mache, 
Suppois ye leuch me all this yeir to scorne. 
For quhat enchessoun this doggis skyn haif ye 
borne?" 

" Maister," quod he, " bot to haif playit with yow ; 

I yow requyre that ye nane other trow." 

" Is this your bourding in ernist than," quod he, 
" For I am verray effeirit, and on flocht : 

Cum bak agane, and I sail let yow se." 

Than quhar the gait wes grimmit he him broeht. 
*' Quhether call ye this fair play, or nocht? 110 

To set your maister in sa fell effray, 

Quhill he for feiritnes hes fylit up the way. 

" Thryis, be my sauU, ye gart me schute behind ; 

Upon my hoichis the senyeis may be sene. 
For feiritnes full oft I fylit the wind. 

Xow is this ye ? na, bot ane hound, I wene ; 

Me think your teith ower schort to be sa kene. 
Blissit be the busk that reft yow your array ; 
Ellis fleand, bursin had I bene this day.'* 

" Schir," quod theWedder, " suppois I ran in hy, 120 
My mynd wes never to do your persoun evill : 

Ane flear gettis ane follower commounlie, 
In play or ernist, preif quha sa ever will. 
Sen I bot playit, be gracious me till. 

And I sail gar my freindis blis your banis : 



208 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Ane full gude servand will crab his maister anis." 

" I half bene oftymis set in greit effray, 
Bot, be the Kude, sa rad yit wes I never, 

As thow hes maid me with thy prettie play : 

I schot behind, quhen thow owertuke me ever ; 130 
Bot sickkerlie now sail we not dissever." 

Than be the crag-bane smertlie he him tuke, 

Or ever he ceissit, and it in sehimder schuke. 



MORALITAS. 

EsoPE, that Poet, first father of this Fabill, 
Wrait this parabole, quhilk is convenient, 

Because the sentence wes fructuous and agreabill ; 
In Moralitie exemplative prudent : 
Quhais problemes bene verray excellent. 

Throw similitude of figuris, to this day, 

Gevis doctrine to the redaris of it ay. 140 

Heir may thow se that riches of array 

Will cause pure men presumpteous for to be. 

Thay think thay hald of nane, be thay als gay, 
Bot counterfute ane Lord in all degre. 
Out of thair cais in pryde they clym sa hie 

That thay forbeir thair better in na steid, 

Quhill sum man tit thair heillis ower thair heid. 

Richt swa in service other sum exceidis, 

And thay haif withgang, welth, and cherissing, 



THE WOLF AND THE WEDDER. 209 



That thay will lychtlie Lordis in thair deidis ; 150 
And lukis not to thair blude, nor thair ofspring : 
Bot yit, na wait, how lang that reull will ring ; 

Bot he was wyse that bad his sone considder. 

Be war in welth, for hall-benkis ar rycht slidder. 

Thairfoir I counsell men of everilk stait 

To knaw thame self, and quhome thay suld forbeir, 

And fall not with thair better in debait, 
Suppois thay be als galland in thair geir : 
It settis na servand for to uphald weir, 

Nor clym sa hie, quhill he fall of the ledder ; 160 

Bot think upon the Wolf, and on the Wedder. 



THE TAILL OF THE WOLF AND 
THE LAMB. 



Ane cruell Wolf, richt ravenous, and fell, 
Upon ane tyme past to ane reveir ; 

Descending from ane rocke unto ane well, 
To slaik his thirst, drank of the watter cleir : 
Swa upon cace, ane selie Lamb come neir, 

Bot of his fa, the Wolf, na thing he wist, 

And in the streme laipit to cule his thrist. 

Thus drank thay baith, bot not of ane intent ; 
The Wolfis thocht wes all of wickitnes : 

The selie Lamb wes meik and innocent. 10 

Upon the rever, in ane other place, 
Beneth the Wolf, he drank ane lytill space, 

Quhill he thocht gude, belevand thair nane evill ; 

The Wolf him saw, and rampand come hym till, 

With girnand teith, and awfull angrie luk, 

Said to the Lamb, " Thow cative wretchit thing, 

How durst thow be sa bald to fyle this bruk, 
Quhar I suld drink, with thy foull slavering ? 
It wer almous thee for to draw and hing, 

That suld presume, with thy foull lippis vyle, 20 



THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 211 

To glar my drink, and this fair waiter fyle." 

The selie Lamb, quaikand for verray dreid, 
On kneis fell, and said, " Schir, with your leif, 

Suppois I dar not say thairof ye leid ; 

Bot, be my saull, I wait ye can nocht preif 
That I did ony thing that suld yow greif : 

Ye wait alswa that your accusatioun 

Failyeis fra treuth, and contrair is to ressoun. 

" Thocht I can nocht. Nature will me defend. 
And of the deid perfyte experience ; 30 

All hevie thing man of the self discend, 
Bot gif sum thing on force mak resistence ; 
Than may the streme in na way mak ascence, 

Nor ryn bakwart : I drank beneth yow far ; 

Ergo, for me your bruke wes never the war. 

" Alswa my lippis, sen that I wes ane Lamb, 
Tuichit na thing that wes contagious ; 

Bot soukkit milk, from pappis of my dame, 
Richt naturall, sweit, and als delitious." 
" Weill,'* quod the Wolf, ** thy language rigor- 
ous 40 

Cummis thee of kynd ; swa thy father before 

Held me at bait als, baith with boist and schore. 

" He wraithit me, and than I culd him warne 
Within ane yeir, and I brukit my held, 

I suld be wrokkin on him, or on his barne, 
For his exhorbitant and frawart pleid : 



212 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Thow sail douties for his deidis be deid." 
" Schir, it is wrang, that for the fatheris gilt, 
The saikles sone suld punist be, or spilt. 

" Half ye not hard quhat halie Scripture sayis, 50 
Endytit with the mouth of God Almycht ? 

Of his awin deidis ilk man sail beir the prais, 
As pyne for sin, reward for werkis rycht ; 
For my trespas quhy suld my sone haif plycht ? 

Quha did the mis let him sustene the pane/* 

" Ya," quod the Wolf, " yit pleyis thow agane. 

'* I let thee wit, quhen that the father offendis, 
I will chereis nane of his successioun ; 

And of his barnis I may weill tak amendis, 

Unto the twentie degrie descending doun. 60 
Thy father thocht to mak ane Strang pusoun. 

And with his mouth in to my watter spew." 

" Schir," quod the Lamb, " thay twa are nouther 
trew. 

" The law sayis, and ye will understand : 
Thair suld na man, for wrang, nor violence, 

His adversair punis at his awin hand, 
Without proces of law, and evidence ; 
Quhilk suld haif leif to mak lawfuU defence. 

And thairupon summondis peremptourlie, 

For to propone, contrairie, or reply. 70 

" Set me ane lauchfuU Court, I sail compeir 
Befoir the Lyoun, Lord and leill Justice ; 



THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 213 



And, be my hand, I obliss me rycht heir 
That I sail byde ane unsuspect assyis. 
This is the hiw : this is the instant use : 
Ye suld pretend thairfoir, ane summondis mak 
Aganis that day, to gif ressoun and tak." 

" Na,*' quod the Wolf, " thow wald intruss ressoun 
Quhar wrang and reif suld dwell in propertie. 

That is ane poynt, and part of fals tressoun, 80 

For to gar reuth remane with crueltie. 
Be his woundis, fals tratour, thow sail de, 

For thy trespas, and for thy fatheris als/' 

With that anone he hint him be the hals. 

The selie Lamb culd do na thing bot blait ; 

Sone wes he deid : the Wolf wald do na grace ; 
Syne drank his blude, and of his flesche can eit, 

Quhill he wes full ; and went his way on pace. 

Of his murther what sail we say, allace ? 
Wes not this reuth, wes not this greit pietie, 90 

To gar this selie Lamb but gilt thus de ? 



MORALITAS. 

The pure pepill this Lamb may signifie, 

As main men, merchandis, and all lauboureris 

Of quhome the lyfe is half ane purgatorie. 
To wyn with lautie leving as effeiris. 
The Wolf betakinnis fals extortioneiris. 

And oppressouris of pure men, as we se. 



214 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Be violence, or craft, or subteltie. 

Thre kynd of Wolfis in this warld now ringis : 
The first ar fals perverteris of the lawis ; 100 

Quhilk, under poleit terrais, falset mingis, 

Lettand that all wer Gospell that he schawls ; 
Bot for ane bud the pure man he overthrawis, 

Smoirand the richt, garrand the wrang proceid. 

Of sic Wolfis hellis-fyre sail be thair meid. 

! man of law ! let be that subteltie, 
With nyce gimpis, and fraudis intricate ; 

And think that God in his divinitie 

The wrang, the rycht, of all thy werkis wait. 
For prayer, price, for hie nor law estait, 110 

Of fals querrellis se thow mak na defence ; 

Hald with the rycht, hurt not thy conscience. 

Ane other kynd of Wolfis ravenous 

Ar mychtie men, haifand aneuch plentie ; 

Quhilkis ar sa gredie, and sa covetous, 

Thay will not thoill the pure in pece to be, 
Suppois he, and his houshald baith, suld de 

For fait of fude ; thairof thay gif na rak, 

Bot ower his heid his mailling will thay tak. 

O man! but mercie, quhat is in thy thocht ? 120 
War than ane Wolf, and thow culd understand : 

Thow hes aneuch ; the pure husband richt nocht 
Bot croip and calf upon ane clout of land. 
For Goddis aw, how durst thow tak on hand, 



THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 215 

And thow in barne and byre sa bene and big, 
To put him fra his tak, and gar him thig ? 

The thrid Wolf ar men of heritage : 

As Lordis, tliat hes land be Goddis lane, 

And settis to the mailleris ane village, 

And for ane tyme gressome payit and tane ; 130 
Syne vexis him or half his terme be gane, 

With pykit querrellis, for to mak him fane 

To flit, or pay his gressome new agane. 

His hors, his meir he mon len to the laird 
To dring, and draw in court or in cariage ; 

His servand, or his self, may not be spaird 
To swink and sweit, withouttin meit or wage. 
Thus how he standis in laubour and bondage, 

That scantlie may he purches by his maill, 

To leve upon dry breid and watter-caill. 140 

Hes thow not reuth to gar thy tennentis sweit 
Into thy laubour, with faynt and hungrie wame ? 

And syne hes lytill gude to drink or eit, 

With his menze at evin quhen he cummis hame : 
Thow suld be rad for rychteous Goddis blame ; 

For it eryis ane vengeance unto the hevinnis hie, 

To gar ane pure man wirk but meit or fe. 

O ! thow, greit lord, that riches hes and rent, 
Thow art ane Wolf thus to devoir the pure ; 

Think, that na thing cruell nor violent 150 

May in this warld perpetuallie indure : 



216 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



This sail thow trow, and sikkerlie assure. 
For till oppres thow sail half als greit pane 
As thow the pure had with thy awin hand slane. 

God keip the Lamb, quhilk is the innocent, 
From Wolfis byit, and men extortioneiris. 

Grod grant that wrangous men of fals intent 
Be manifestit, and punischit as eflfeiris. 
And God, as thow all ryehteous prayer heiris, 

Mot saif our King, and gif him hart and hand, 160 

All sic Wolfis to banis out of the land. 



THE TAILL OF THE PADDOK AND 
THE MOUS. 



Upon ane tyme, as Esope culd report, 
Ane lytill Mous come till ane rever syde ; 

Scho micht not waid, hir schankis wer sa schort ; 
Scho culd not swym, scho had na hors to ryde : 
Of verray force behovit hir to byde, 

And to and fra besyde that rever deip 

Scho ran, cry and with mony pietuous peip. 

" Help ower, help ower," this sillie Mous can cry, 
'* For Goddis lufe, sum bodie ower this brym." 

With that ane Paddok in the watter by 10 

Put up hir held, and on the bank can clym ; 
Quhilk be nature culd dowk, and gaylie swym. 

With voce full rauk, scho said on this maneir : 

" Gude morne, Schir Mous, quhat is your erand 
heir?" 

" Seis thow," quod scho, " of corne yone jolie flat 
Of ryip aittis, of barlie, peis, and quheit ; 

I am hungrie, and fane wald be thairat, 
Bot I am stoppit be this watter greit ; 
And on this syde I get na thing till eit 



218 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Bot hard nuttis, quhilkis with ray teith I bore. 20 
Wer I beyond, my feist wer fer the more. 

" I haif na boit, heir is na marineris : 

And though thair ware, I haif no fraucht to pay." 

Quod scho, " Sistir lat be your havy cheir ; 
Do my counsall, and I sail fynd the way 
Withouttin horss, brig, boit, or yet gallay. 

To bring you ower saifly — be not afFeird ! — 

And not weitand the campis of your beird." 

" I haif grit wounder,"' quod the silly mowss, 

How can thow fleit without fedder or fyn? 30 

This rever is sa deip and dangerous, 

Me think that thow suld drownit be thairin. 
Tell me, thairfoir, quhat faeultie or gyn 

Thow hes to bring thee ower this watter?" Than 

Thus to declair the Paddok sone began : 

" With ray twa feit," quod scho, *' lukkin and braid, 
In steid of airis, I row the streme full still ; 

And thocht the brym be perrillous to waid, 
Baith to and fra I row at my awin will. 
I may not drown, for quhy ? — my oppin gill 40 

Devoidis ay the watter I resaif : 

Thairfoir to droun forsuith na dreid I haif." 

The Mous beheld unto her fronsit face, 
Hir runkillit cheikis, and hir lippis syde ; 

Hir hingand browis, and hir voce sa hace ; 
Hir loggerand leggis, and hir harsky hyde. 



THE PADDOK AND THE MOUS. 219 



Scho ran abak, and on the Paddok cryde : 
** Gif I can ony skill of phisnomie, 
Thow lies surapart of falset and invie. 

" For Clerkis sayis the inclinatioun 50 

Of mannis thocht proceidis commounlie 

Efter the corporall eomplexioun 

To gude or evill, as nature will apply : 
Ane thrawert vult, ane thrawert phisnomy. 

The auld proverb is witnes of this : Lorum 

Distortum vultum, sequitur distortio morum.'* 

" Na," quod the Taid, *' that proverb is not trew ; 
For fair thingis oftymis ar fundin faikyn. 

The bla-berryis, thoclit thay be sad of hew, 

Ar gadderit up quhen primeros is forsakin. 60 
The face may faill to be the hartis takiu. 

Thairfoir I find this Scripture in all place : 

Thow suld not juge ane man efter his face. 

" Thocht I unhailsuni be to hike upon, 
I half na cause quhy I suld lakkit be ; 

Wer I als fair as jolie Absolon, 

I am na causer of that greit beutie. 
This difference in forme and qualitie 

Almychtie God hes causit dame Nature 

To prent, and set in everilk creature. 70 

" Of sum the face may be full flurischeand ; 
Of silkin toung, and cheir rycht amorous ; 
With mynd inconstant, fals, and wariand ; 



220 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Full of desait, and menis cautelous." 

" Let be tliy preiching/' quod the hungrie Mous ; 
And be quliat craft thow gar me understand 
That thow wald gyde me to yone yonder land?" 

*' Thow wait," quod scho, *' ane bodie that hes neid. 
To help thame self suld mony wayis cast : 

Thairfoir ga tak ane dowbill twynit threid, 80 

And bind thy leg to myne with knottis fast ; 
I sail the leir to swym — be not agast ! — 

Als Weill as I." " As thow," than quod the Mous, 

" To preif that play it wer rycht perrillous. 

" Suld I be bund and fast quhar I am fre, 
In hoip of help, na than I schrew us baith ; 

For I mycht lois baith lyfe and libertie. 

Grif it wer swa, quha suld amend the skaith ? 
Bot gif thow sweir to me the murthour aith, 

But fraud or gyle, to bring me ower this flude, 90 

But hurt or harme." " In faith," quod scho, " I 
dude." 

Scho goikit up, and to the hevin can cry : 
" Juppiter ! of Nature god and king, 

I mak ane aith trewlie to thee, that I 

This lytill Mous sail ower this watter bring." 
This aith wes maid. The Mous, but persaving 

The fals ingyne of this foull trappald Taid, 

Tuke threid and band hir leg, as scho hir baid. 

Than fute for fute thay lap baith in the bryra ; 



THE PADDOK AND THE MOUS. 221 



Bot in tliaii* myndis thay wer rycht different : 100 
The Mous thocht of na thing bot for to swym, 

The Paddok for to droun set hir intent. 

Quhen thay in midwart of the streme wer went, 
With all hir force the Paddok preissit doun, 
And thocht the Mous without mercie to droun. 

Persavand this, the Mous on hir can cry : 
" Tratour to God, and manesworne unto me, 

Thow swore the murthour aith richt now, that I 
But hurt or harme suld ferryit be and fre;" 
And quhen scho saw thair wes bot do or de, 110 

With all hir mycht scho forcit hir to swym, 

And preissit upon the Taiddis bak to clym. 

The dreid of deith hir strenthis gart incres. 
And forcit hir defend with mycht and mane. 

The Mous upwart, the Paddok doun can preis ; 
Quhyle to, quhyle fra, quhyle dowkit up agane. 
This sillie Mous, plungit in to greit pane. 

Gran fecht als lang as breith wes in hir breist ; 

Till at the last scho cryit for ane preist. 

Fechtand thusgait the Gled sat on ane twist, 120 
And to this wretchit battell tuke gude held ; 

And with ane wisk, or ony of thame wist, 

He claucht his cluke betwix thame in the threid. 
Syne to the land he flew with thame gude speid. 

Fane of that fang, pyipand with mony pew : 

Syne lowsit thame, and baith but pietie slew. 



222 THE FABLES OF ESOPE. 



Syne bowellit thame, that boucheour, with his bill, 
And belliflaucht full fettillie thame flaid ; 

Bot all thair flesche wald scant be half ane fill, 
And guttis als, unto that gredie Glaid. 130 

Of thair debait, thus quhen I hard outraid, 

He tuke his flieht, and ower the feildis flaw : 

Gif this be trew, speir ye at thame that saw. 



MORALITAS. 

My Brother, gif thow will tak advertence, 

Be this Fabill, thow may persave and se, 
It passis fer all kynd of pestilence, 

Ane wickit mynd, with wordis fair and sl^. 

Be war thairfoir, with quhome thow fallowis thee : 
To thee wer better beir the stane barrow, 

For all thy dayis to delf quhill thow may dre, 140 
Than to be maehit with ane wLckit marrow. 

Ane fals intent under ane fair presence 

Hes causit mony innocent for to de. 
Greit folic is to gif ower sone credence 

To all that speikis fairlie unto thee. 

Ane silkin toung, ane hart of crueltie, 
Smytis more sore than ohy schot of arrow. 

Brother, gif thow be wyse, I reid thee fl4. 
Than mache thee with ane thrawart fenyeit marrow. 

I warne thee als, it is greit negligence loO 

To bind thee fast quhar thow wes frank and fre. 



THE PADDOK AND THE MOUS. 223 



Era thow be bund, thow may mak na defence 

To saif thy lyfe, nor yit thy libertie. 

This simpill eounsall, brother, tak of me, 
And it to cim perqueir : se thow not tarrow ; 

Better but stryfe to leif allane in le 
Than to be maehit with ane wickit marrow. 

This hald in mynd ; rycht more I sail thee tell 
Quharby thir beistis may be figurate. 

The Paddok, usand in the flude to dwell, 160 

Is mannis bodie, swymand air and lait 
In to this Warld, with cairis implicate ; 

Now hie, now law ; quhylis plungit up, quhylis 
doun ; 

Ay in perreil, and reddie for to droun. 

Now dolorus, now blyth as bird on breir ; 

Now in fredome, now wappit in distress ; 
Now haill and sound, now deid and brocht on beir ; 

Now pure as Job, now rowand in richess ; 

Now gownis gay, now brattis laid in pres ; 
Now full as fitche, now hungrie as a hound ; 170 
Now on the quheill, now wrappit to the ground. 

This lytill Mous heir knit thus be the schyn 
The SauU of man betakin may in deid ; 

Bundin, and fra the bodie may not wyn, 

Quhill cruell Deith cum brek of lyfe the threid ; 
The quhilk to droun suld ever stand in dreid. 

Of carnall lust be the suggestioun, 

Quhilk drawis ay the saull, and druggis doun. 



224 THE FABLES OP ESOPE. 



The watter is the Warld, ay welterand 

With mony wall of tribulation ; 180 

In quhilk the saule and body wer steirand, 
Standand richt diflPerent in thair opinioun : 
The saule upwart, the body preisis doun ; 

The saule richt fain wald be broeht over, I wis, 

Out of this warld unto the heavenis blis. 

The Gled is Deith, that cummis suddandlie 
As dois ane theif, and endis sone the battall. 

Be vigilant thairfoir, and ay reddie ; 

For mannis lyfe is brukill, and ay inortall : 

My freind, thairfoir, raak thee ane Strang Castell 

Of faith in Christ ; for Deith will thee assay, 

Thow wait not quhen : evin, morrow, or midday. 

Adew, my freind ; and gif that ony speiris 
Of this Fabill sa schortlie I conclude. 

Say thow, I left the laif unto the Freiris, 
To mak exempill and ane similitude. 
Now Christ for us that deit on the rude, 

Of saull and lyfe, as thow art Salviour, 

Grant us till pas in till ane blissit hour. 199 



NOTES 




NOTES AND VARIOUS READINGS. 



The Manuscript Collections which contain any poems 
by Henryson, may be briefly noticed, with the abbre- 
viated references, — 

AsloarCs MS. — A volume in folio, consisting of articles 
in prose and verse, collected and transcribed by John 
AsLOAN, about the year 1515. This volume, like the 
more ancient and better known " Auchinleck Manu- 
script," came into the possession of Lord Auchinleck, 
one of the Lords of Session (1754-1782), in a mutilated 
state, but was inlaid and rebound at the expense of his 
grandson. Sir Alexander Boswell of Auchinleck. He 
allowed it for many years to remain in Edinburgh, but I 
have not been able to ascertain whether it ever found its 
way back to Ayrshire. From the original table of con- 
tents, it appears, there were, as numbered, seventy-one 
articles, — of which thirty-four are unfortunately lost, 
including some of Henryson's fables and poems. 

Bann. MS. — The well known manuscript of George 
Bannatyne, collected and written by him in the year 
1568, and preserved in the Advocates Library, Edin- 
burgh. In the volume printed for the Bannatyne Club, 
entitled " Memorials of George Bannatyne," 1829, 4to, 
a detailed list of its various contents is given. The 



228 NOTES. 

greater number of Henryson's existing poems are in- 
cluded in this manuscript. 

Gray'^s MS. — A very diminutive volume, written by 
Mr Ja3ies Gray, a notary-public, and priest of the dio- 
cese of Dunblane during the latter part of the fifteenth 
century. It has only one religious poem by Henryson. 
The volume is now in the Advocates Library. It is 
chiefly valuable for some brief chronicles or genealogies 
of the kings of Scotland, which attracted the notice of 
Father Innes, who has given a description of the volume 
in his Critical Essay, vol. ii., pp. 627-631. 

Harl. MS. — This contains a neat and careful trans- 
cript of Henryson's Fables, dated 1571, and appears to 
have been taken fj'om a printed edition, with wood- cuts, 
of which no copy is known to exist. It is in the British 
Museum, London : — Harleian Manuscripts, No. 3865. — 
See introductory note to the Fables. A MS. copy of the 
Fables, of the same date, was in the possession of Dr 
Archibald Pitcairne, as we learn from a printed catalogue 
of his Library. 

Makculloch's MS. — This volume, in my o^vn posses- 
sion, is a folio, containing Dictates of Philosophy, &c. in 
Latin, wi'itten by JMagnus LIakcuuloch, while attend- 
ing lectures at the University of Louvain, in the year 
1477. The first possessor of the MS., in a contemporary 
hand, of the end of the fifteenth century, has inserted, 
on the blank pages of the volume, several poems, chiefly 
religious, without the names of the authors, but includ- 
ing three or four by Henryson. 

Maitl. MS. — The folio volume of Sir Richard Mait- 
LAND of Lethington's Collections, in the Pepysian Lib- 



NOTES. 229 

rary, Magdalene College, Cambridge. It is now ascer- 
tained that Pepys had bought this MS. at the sale of the 
Duke of Lauderdale's library at London in 1692 — (See 
Bannatyne Miscellany, vol. ii., p. 162). A list of its con- 
tents, but not in a very distinct form, is given by Pinker- 
ton in his "Ancient Scotish Poems, from the Mait- 
land Manuscripts," vol. ii., pp. 437-467 : Lond. 1786. 
I may add, that Reidpeth's MS., 1623, among Bishop 
More's MSS. in the University Library, Cambridge, 
which was apparently copied from Sir R. Maitland's 
volume, does not include any of Henryson's poems. The 
MS., however, is mutilated. — See Dunbar's Poems, vol. 
i., p. xii; note 6. 



ROBENE AND MAKYNE.— Page 3. 

Bann. MS., fol. 365, from Avhich it was first printed 
by Allan Ramsay in his " Evergreen," 1724, and by 
Bishop Percy in his " Reliques of Ancient English 
Poetry;" but more correctly by Lord Hailes, 1770, 
and in various other collections. It also forms the 
first portion of a volume contributed by George Chal- 
mers, Esq. to the Bannatyne Club in 1825, with a 
biographical notice of the author, and notes on this 
poem, chiefly philological, (by his nephew and coad- 
jutor, ]\Ii' James Chalmers). No other copy than Ban- 
natyne's is known, to afford any various readings. In 
the lost portion of Asloan's MS. it seems to be indicated 
under this title, " Ane ballat of Making of (sic) Ixix." 

Thomas Campbell, in his " Specimens of the British 
Poets," vol. ii., p. 77, 1819, has copied the most part of 
Robene and Makjne, as a favourable specimen of Henry- 
son, — accompanied with a kind of literal translation, 



230 NOTES. 

which may be here inserted, numbering the lines to 
con-espond mth the text : — 

1 Robene sat on a good gi-een hill, 2 Keeping a flock 
of cattle (sheep) ; 3 Merry Makyne said to him : 4 
Robene, take pity on me. 5 I have loved thee, openly 
and secretly, 6 These years two or three ; 7 My sor- 
row, in secret, unless thou share, 8 Undoubtedly I 
shall die. 

9 Robene answered, By the Rood! 10 Nothing of 
love I know, 11 But keep my sheep under yon wood. 
12 Lo ! where they range in a row. 13 What has 
maiTed thee in thy mood, 14 Makyne show thou to me ? 
15 Or what is love, or to be loved? 16 Fain would I 
know that law (of love) ! 

17 At the lore of love, if thou wilt learn, 18 Take 
there an A B C ; 19 Be kind, courteous, and fair of 
aspect or feature : 20 Wise, hardy, and free. 21 See 
that no danger daunt thee ; 22 Whatever sorrow in 
secret thou sufferest, 23 Exert thyself with pains to 
thy utmost power. 24 Be patient and privy. 

25 Robene answered her again : 26 I wot not what 
is love ; 27 But I (have) wonder, certainly, 28 What 
makes thee thus melancholy : 29 The weather is fair, 
and I am glad 30 My sheep go healthfal above (or in 
the uplands). 31 If we should play in this plain, 32 
They would reproof us both. 

33 Robene, take heed unto my tale, 34 And do all 
as I advise, 35 And thou shalt have my heart entirely ; 
37 Since God sends good for evil, 38 And for mom-n- 
ing, consolation. 39 I am now in secret with thee ; but 
if I separate, 40 Doubtless I shall die (broken hearted). 

41 Makyne, to-morrow, this very time, 42 If ye will 
meet me here, 43 Perhaps my sheep may go aside 44 
Until we have lain near. 

49 Robene, thou robbest my quiet and rest. 50 I 



NOTES, 231 

love but thee aJoiie. 61 Makyne, adieu, the sun goes 
west ; 52 The day is nearly gone. 53 Robene, in sor- 
row I am so beset 54 That love will be my bane. 55 
Go, love, Makyne, where thou wilt, 56 For sweetheart 
I love none. 

57 Eobene, I am in such a state, 58 I sigh, and that 
fiiU sore. 59 Makyne, I have been here sometime ; 60 
At home God grant I were. 61 My sweet Robene, talk 
a while, 62 If thou wilt do no more. 63 Makyne, 
some other man beguile, 64 For homeward I will fare. 
65 Robene on his way went, Q6 As light as leaf of 
tree ; 67 Makyne mom'ned in her thoughts, 68 And 
thought him never to see. 69 Robene went over the 
hiU, 70 Then Makyne cryed on high : 71 l!^ow you 
may sing, I am destroyed ; 72 What ails, love, with me ? 
73 Makyne went home without fail, 74 Full (vexed) 
after she would weep. 75 and 76 : — The lines, " Than 
Robene in a full fair daill," may either mean that he 
assembled his sheep in a fair full number, or in a fair 
piece of his ground : the former is the most probable 
meaning. 77 By that (time) some of Makyne's sorrow 
78 Crept through his heart ; 79 He followed fast to lay 
hold of her, 80 And held good watch of her. 

81 Abide, abide, thou fair Makyne : 82 A word for 
anything's (sake) ! 83 For all my love shall be thine, 
84 Without departing ; 85 To have thy heart all mine 
86 Is all that I covet. 87 My sheep to-morrow, till 

nine, 88 Will need no keeping 

110 For you made game of my pain ; 111 I shall 
say like you, 112 Mourn on, I think to do better (than 
be in love). 

113 Makyne, the hope of all my health, 114 My 
heart is on thee set; 115 And (I) shall ever more be 
true to thee 116 While I may live, without ceasing, 
117 Never to fail, as others fail, 118 Whatever favour 



232 NOTES. 

I obtain. 119 Robene, with thee I will not deal. 120 
Adieu ! for thus we met. 

121 Makyne went home blythe enough, 122 Over 
the hoary woodlands. 123 Robene mouraed, and Ma- 
kyne laughed : 124 She sang, he sighed sore, 125 And 
so left him woeful and overcome, 126 In dolour and 
care, 127 Keeping his herd under a cliff 128 Among 
the hoary hillocks. 

Line 5. Lowd and still.'] " Openly and secretly." — 
Chalmers. 

Line 7. My dule in dern hot gif thow dill.'] "The 
word dill^ daill, deill, means sliai-e. The sense is, ' Un- 
less thou share my secret woe,' — i.e. unless you retm-n 
love for love." — Hailes. — My dule or grief in secret 
unless thou share. "In the old Eng. dule is soitow, 
grief; so doole in R. Gloc. ; dole in Minot, and the same 
in Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare. Dern is secret, 
from the A.S., dyrn of Lye. So in Chaucer, — 

Of derne love he coude. 

Dill, to suit the rhyme, is put for dele., or dail. Dele, to 
share, is from the A.S., daelan of Lye. In R. Gloc, Lang- 
toft, Minot, Chaucer, it is dele; in Spenser and Shake- 
speare, deal.''' — Chai^iers. 

Line 12. Raik on raw.] " Roam, or extend them- 
selves in a row, as the manner of sheep is while pas- 
turing. A sheep-raik and a sheep-walk are synonymous." 
— Hailes. Range in a row.] " Raik is from the A.S., 
racan of Lye — signifying to range, or stretch out ; and 
raikf as a subs., means a range, or walk, a sheep-raik." 
— Chalmers. 

Line 19. Fair of feir.] " The word feir has various 
significations ; as fear, companion, countenance. I think 
that it is here taken in the signification last mentioned. 
The word wyse in the next line must be pronounced as 



NOTES. 233 

a dissyllable ; and the word hardy ^ like the French hardi^ 
with the accent on the last syllable." — Hailes. "In 
the history of Scotland there is a well-known expres- 
sion, that the people are to appear in the field ' well 
boden in fear of war,' — meaning the port, appearance, 
or circumstance of war. Heniyson might mean, by his 
alliterative expression, fair of appearance, mien, look, 
manner. Feir is put, by him, to rhyme with ZezV." — 
Chalmers. 

Line 21. No danger do thee deir : do thee hurt.] 
" Dere, deir, signify hurt or injury, front the A.S., derian 
of Lye ; as in R. Gloc, Langtoft, and Minot. So in 
Chaucer, — 

Nevir mo ye shul my contree dere, 

Deir is here used by Henryson as a verb ; and do thee 
deir means hurt thee. This was the usual mode of the 
old poets in using do^ transitively, with some other verb. 
Chaucer has ' do me drench, do me stripen ; ' and Lynd- 
say has ' done indyte ' for has indyted, and done complete 
for completed." — Chalmeks. 

Line 22. Quhat dule in dern thou dre.'} "Whatever 
sorrow or distress you may endure in secret. The word 
dre is still used with us ; as, ' It is ill to dr.',' ' To dre 
pennance,' &c." — Hailes. 

Line 28. Quhat makis the this wanrufe.'] " The A.S. 
privative is wan, and rew is order; so that the word 
means disorder: — What is it that occasions such dis- 
turbance in your mind?" — Hailes. 

Lines 31, 32. " Were we to amuse ourselves in the plain, 
while the sheep roam on the side of the hill, they would be 
neglected, and that neglect would turn to our reproach. 
To suppose that the sheep themselves would censure, 
is an idea too refined for the limited apprehensions of 
Eobene." — Hailes. 



234 NOTES. 

Line 37. Bute for baill'} " Bute, bote, remedy, help, 
from the A.S., bote of Lve, which may have been derived 
from the British, budd^ in the same sense. So bote^ in 
R. Gloc, Langtoft, and in Minot, — 

He traisted of no better tote. 

Bail., or bale., fi'om the A.S., beal of Lye, means sorrow, 
misery. So in Minot, — 

For thou art tute of all my hale. 

And so it is in Langtoft, Chaucer, and Spenser." — 
Chalmers. 

Line 39. I dern with the., bot gif I daill,] " We watch 
together ; we are alone ; unless I share of your favour, 
I am lost : — this seems to be the import of the expres- 
sion." — Hailes. 

Line 45. Bot mawgre.'] " Mawgre, from the Fr., 
malgre, is here used in the sense of ill-will, or spite. So 
Chaucer uses it, — 

I drede thou caust me grete maugre. 

And in this sense Hemyson's verse would mean : But 
ill-will may I have if I stay. Maugre, in the secondary 
sense, if in spite, or against the will, is also common in 
the old English and Scottish writers. Byde means to 
stay, from the A.S., bidan., as we know from Lye, and is 
common in the old English wiiters." — Chalmers. 

Line 77. Robene brayd attour the bent.'] " Hastily 
traversed the ground overgrown with rushes, or coarse 
grass. The expression in English which most nearly 
resembles this, is, 'Strode along the brake.'" — Hailes. 

Line 84. Withowttin departing.'] " Without departing., 
without dividing. So was the verb departe often used 
by Langtoft and Mandevile, and Chaucer has — 

And will not departed be. 



NOTES. 235 

It is also used by Spenser, and by Shakespeare, in the 
sense of to give away, or part with : — 

Which we much rather had depart withal." 

— Chalmers. 

Line 90. In cfestis and storeis auld.'] " In romances 
and stories that were sung and said. We here see that 
Henryson was well acquainted with the gests and stories 
of his time." — Chalmers. 

Lme 96. Befrith^forrest^ orfauld.'] " So Dunbar,— 

In frith, forrest, and feild. 

Such expressions were very common in the old poets, 
both of England and Scotland. FrWi^ in the British, 
signifies a forest or woodland ; so in the Scoto-Irish." — 
Chalmers. 

Line 113. The hope of all my happiness.'] " Hail., hele, 
from the A.S., 7^eZ, hael, signifies health, welfare, pros- 
perity ; so hele is used by R. Gloc. And Minot has — 

Hald tham in gude hele. 

And Wicliflf uses hele for salvation." — Chalmers. 

Line 116. But letf] "Without stop or hinderance ; 
and so it is used by Mandevile. Chaucer has, — 

And in she gotte withoutten lenger lette. 

So Shakespeare, — 

What lets, but one may enter at her window ? 

In this sense, however, this word must not be confounded 
with let, to permit, or suffer, which is in present use." — 
Chalmers. 

Line 122. " Holt, in the ancient language, signified 
both a hill and a wood. Here, the context requires that 
it should be regarded as a hill: — ^Makyne went home 
blyth enough over the holtis hair, over the hoary hills. 



236 NOTES. 

Our poet would have made Makyne skip through the 
woods : — 

Skip o'er the lawns, and by the rivers play.' " 

— Chalmers. 

Line 125. She left him both wo and wreuch.'] " Vexed. 
Chaucer uses wo in the same sense : — 

' Was nevir wight yet half so wo.' 

Wreuch^ or wrought, means vexed, in Langtoft ; and in 
Chaucer, wrawe is used for peevish. Chaucer also uses 
wro^ substantively, for giief, anger." — Chauviers. 

Line 127. Keeping his hird^ herd^ or Jlock^ under a 
heuch.'] " Heuch^i heugh^ and hew^ signify a height^ par- 
ticularly a cliff, or high steep bank. The word, under 
whatever fonn, is derived from the British wc/i, superior ; 
altior^ supray — Davis. " Having the aspirate (h) pre- 
fixed, it becomes hoch ; vox Celtica^ quae Cambris effer- 
tur wc/«." — Wachter's Gloss. " Heuch and hew are 
equally common in the language and typography of 
England and Scotland. From the inaccurate applica- 
tion of the teiTH, sometimes to the hollow or glen below 
the heugh or cliff, the editor of ' The Complaint of Scot- 
land ' has mistakingly explained heugh to be 'a deep 
rugged valley, or small glen,' which is directly contrary 
to the meaning of his author : — 

Under ane hingand heuch, under a hanging cliff. 

From his own mistake, Leyden goes on to charge Ruddi- 
man with an error, in explaining heuch ^ a rock or steep 
hill, which comes very near to the genuine meaning of 
the word, and to the sense wherein Gawyn Douglas 
uses it." — Chalmers. 

Line 128. Amangis the holtis hair.'] " It is rashi/ gair 
in the ' Evergi'een,' for no better reason than that holtis 
hair was in line 2 of the stanza, and that the publisher saw 
an impropriety in the repetition. If I mistake not, holtis 



« 



NOTES. 237 

hair means the bleak uplands. There seems no sense in 
hoary woods, which is the literal intepretation of the 
phrase."— Hailes. " Holt signified a tcood or grove, 
from the A.S., holt, Incus, sylva; remus, Somner, and 
Lye. The same word also signified a height, or hill, 
from the Fr., haidt, perhaps, as holt is pronounced hout 
in the vulgar language; and, in Dumfriesshire, the 
word holt is still used for a dimghill and a hajcock, and, 
at the same time, for a mount. — Stat. Ac v. 13, pp. 
668-9. In this same stanza above, we have seen attour 
the holts, which plainly means over the hills. Gawyn 
Douglas also uses holts for hills or heights : 

That throw the wodeis and the lioUyes hie. 

In the same manner, Turberville, in his ' Songs and Son- 
nets,' — 

' Yee that frequent the hills and highest holies of all.' 

The only meaning which can be given to the epithet 
hair, is hoary, or grey, from the A.S., har, hare, canus, 
Lye. The epithet hore, or grey, is, in fact, coupled with 
the holtis, in Ritson's Romances : — 

An huntynge went Syr Launfel, 
To chasy yn holies hore. 

And again, in ' Sir Orpheo : ' — 

In wyldernes now wol y be, 
And wonne there in holtys hore. 

The only difference is, that here the epithet hore is 
coupled with the holtis, for woods — while, in the other, 
hair is coupled with the holtis, for hills. But, as the 
epithet green is applied to hills, when speaking of them 
in the spring, so the epithet grey may be equally applied 
to both when speaking of them in the autumn; and 
Spenser, in February, metaphorically, calls the branches 
and withered leaves of the oak ' his hoarie locks : ' yet 
Lord Hailes could not discover any sense in hoary tooods.^' 
—Chalmers. 



238 NOTES. 



THE GARMOND OF GUDE LADEIS— Page 8. 

Bann. MS., fol. 215. — It has this colophon : — " Finis 
of the Garmont of Gud Ladeis q. [quod] Mr Robert 
Henrysoun." 

Line 1.] " This poem is a sort of paraphrase of 1 Tim., 
ii., 9-11 ; but the comparison between female ornaments 
and female virtues is extended throughout so many lines, 
and with so much of a tire-woman's detail, that it be- 
comes somewhat ridiculous." — Hailes. Notwithstand- 
ing this opinion, the poem is curious on account of its 
minuteness; and Pinkerton (History, vol. !., p. ■434) 
refers to it as giving the best idea of the dress of a lady 
of that period. " The complete attire," he says, " con- 
sisting of hood, shift, kirtle (or gown and petticokt), tied 
with laces, and adorned with mails or spangles; an 
upper gown or robe, pm-fled and furred, and adorned 
with ribbons ; a belt ; a mantle or cloke in bad weather ; 
a hat, tippet, patelet^ perhaps small ruff; a ribbon about 
the neck ; sleeves, gloves, shoes and hose." 

Line 15. The mailyeis.'] " The word maille signifies a 
link in the net- work of which an haubergeon is com- 
posed. Hence we still say, a coat of mail. The word is 
here used for an oylet-hole, through which a long lace is 
I."— Hailes. 



THE BLUDY SERK.— Page 10. 

Bann. MS., fol. 328''. — It is inserted under the head 
of Fabillis, and is subscribed " Quod IVIr R. Henryci." 
It seems to have been first printed, from this MS., in 
Pinkerton's " Ancient Scotish Poems," 1792, vol. iii., p. 
189 ; again in Sibbald's " Chronicle of Scottish Poetry," 



NOTES. 239 

1802, vol. ii., p. 178 ; and also in the volume of " Select 
Remains of the Ancient Poetry of Scotland," 1822, 4to. 

Pinkerton says this poem "has little merit, except its 
easy versification, and ballad stanza, rarely found in 
productions of that epoch." It was evidently boiTOwed 
from one of the tales in the Gesta Romanoram, of which 
Warton has given the following brief summary in his 
Dissertation on that popular collection, prefixed to his 
History of English Poetry, vol. i., p. clvii. ; edit. 1840 : — 

" A knight offers to recover a lady's inheritance, which 
had been seized by a tyrant, on condition that if he is 
slain, she shall always keep his bloody armour hanging 
in her chamber. He regains her property, although he 
dies in the attempt ; and as often as she was afterwards 
sued for in marriage, before she gave an answer, she 
returned to her chamber, and, contemplating with tears 
her deliverer's bloody armour, resolutely rejected every 
solicitation." 

In the " Gesta," No. lxi., the lady, it is said, was first 
seduced, and then deprived of her inheritance, by a tyran- 
nical Duke (Dux tyi-annus), and reduced to such extreme 
poverty as to solicit alms of the passengers. In the 
oldest of the English versions, the story occurs as No. 
IX. ; the lady is called the daughter of Fredericus, a 
wise Emperor reigning in Rome ; and after her dis- 
honour by a certain Earl, she went into another country 
— ("The Old English Versions of the Gesta Roman- 
orum," edited by Sir F. Madden for the Roxburghe 
Club, 1838, 4to). It will be observed that Henryson's 
poem differs in various particulars, but chiefly in his 
description of Lucifer as a hideous giant : the morality 
in all the copies is much the same. 

One of the earliest, if not the first edition, of this 
popular work, has no date, but is supposed to have been 
printed at Utrecht, by Nic. Ketelaer, about the year 



240 NOTES. 

1474. Henryson, therefore, might have possessed such 
a copy. I have one, in its original binding (along with 
the Liber Alexandii Magni de Preliis, no date ; and Mag. 
Jac. de Theramo Belial, printed by Jo. Yeldener, 1474), 
in small folio. On the first leaf is written, " Iste Liber 
constat Magro. Henrico Barry Rectorj de Culass, empt. 
ij. Aprilis anno 147[5?];" and Barry seems to have 
given it to the Friars Preachers of Dundee : — " Liber 
Ordinis Fratrum Predicatorum de Dwnde," is repeated 
more than once. I mention this as an instance of such 
works speedily finding their way into this country. It 
has the title : — " Hystorie notabiles coUectae ex Gestis 
Romanoram," &c. — (See Hain, No. 7735). 

Line 61. His likame dicht.'\ Henryson elsewhere uses 
this word, which signifies a body — either animated or, 
as in this place, dead, a corpse — (See Jamieson's Dic- 
tionary, sub V. Licaym. Sibbald has explained the word 
lycome^ &c., but here chooses to alter " Likame " to 
" Lynkome," and, in a very absm-d note, says, — " In 
the MS. likame^ certainly an en-or of the transcriber, for 

lynkome^ linen : his linen was rendered unlusum 

The alliteration would requii-e this phrase to be lyncome 
licht, and probably Henryson wrote it so." 



THE ABBAY WALK.— Page 15. 
Bann. MS., fol. 46b ; and repeated at p. 30 of the same 
MS., with the author's name. It also occurs in jMaitl. 
MS., No. 123, with some slight variations ; and, at the 
end, " Finis, Authore incerto." AYe likewise find it re- 
tained its popularity long after Henryson's name was for- 
gotten. In a small MS. volume, in the library of IVIr Chal- 
mers of Aldbar, it is inserted with the title " Ane Sonnet," 
and the transcriber, Alexander Riddell at Bowland, in 
the year 1636, chose to add his own name to this and 



NOTES. 241 

Other articles, as if he had been the author,—" Finis, 
quod Riddell." In one of the separate editions, " printed 
(at Aberdeen, by John Forbes) anno 1686," along with 
some other popular verses, it has this title, " An ancient 
Dittie, entituled, Obey and thank thy God of all,'''' The 
first verse may be quoted, to show how it was modern- 
ised : — 

Alone as I walked up and down 

Into a place was fair to see, 
Thinking what consolation 

Was best in aU adversitie : 

By chance, I cast aside mine eye, 
And fand it written on a wall : 

Of what estate man that thou be, 
Obey and thank thy God of all. 

Line 1.] "I have given this poem the title of the 
Abhay Walk, from a like title given to a popular poem 
mentioned by Sir James Inglis in his Complaint. Let 
me observe, in passing, that if the study of Scottish his- 
tory should ever revive, a new edition of Inglis's Com- 
plaint would be an acceptable present to the public." — 
Hailes. 

The very curious little volume here mentioned by Lord 
Hailes was originally printed either at Edinburgh or St 
Andrews in 1549, and was reprinted with this title : — 
" The Complaynt of Scotland, written in the year 1548, 
with a Preliminary Dissertation and Glossary (by Dr 
John Leyden) :" Edinbui'gh, 1801, 8vo, and some large 
paper copies in 4to. Dr Leyden's Dissertation is a 
most learned, but somewhat rambling performance ; and 
he has left the question of its authorship, whether Inglis 
or Wedderburn, very much as he found it. (See note on 
this subject in Dunbar's Poems, vol. ii., pp. 395-6. 

Line 55. Quha heis law hairtis, and lawisJieJ] " Who 
exalts the humble in spirit, and brings down the lofty. 
Q 



242 NOTES. 

It is copied from Cliaucer. Cuckowe and Nightingale^ 
p. 643 :— 

For he can makia of lowe hertis hie, 
And of hie lowe. 

What Chaucer says of love, Heurysoun applies to the 
Divinity. " — Haile s . 

AGANIS HAISTY CREDDENCE OF TITLARIS.— 

Page 18. 

Bann. MS., fol. 67, " quod Mr Robert Hendersone ;" 
and Maitl. MS., No. 121, " quod Mr Robert Henrysoun." 
— In this copy the first line reads, "Fals tatlaris now 
growis up full rank;" and the last line, "That thai to 
sic gif no haistie credence." Pinkerton mentions it " as 
a very poor production against tale-bearing;" and it 
must be admitted that it is so. 



THE PRAIS OF AIGE.— Page 21. 

This poem, which is preserved in various collections, 
first occurs in Makculloch's MS., without the author's 
name. It is also anonymous in Chepman and Myllar's 
Tracts, printed at Edinburgh in the year 1508. But it is 
ascribed to Hemyson in Bannatyne's MS., fol. 57, and 
again in the duplicate portion, p. 44. The text is here 
given from the oldest copy. The following variations 
may be noticed : — 

Line 1, Within a garth ; line 5, And as me thocht ; 
line 10, Besoucht with syn and other sytis mo : and other 
slichtis mo; line 11, Treuth is all tynt; line 12, Has 
wrocht all (welthis) weill to wo ; line 18, Sik perillis : sic 
parrell; line 19, But speciall grace: hut full smal grace ; 
line 20, Can none gaynstand ; line 21, Syne of the thing 
that tofore joyii he : befoir that joyit he : line 25, Suld no 



NOTES. 243 

man traist: sowld no man trust ; line 27, The stait of it ; 
line 28, Na gude to spend: haifnot to spend. 

THE RESSONING BETWIX AIGE AND 
YOUTH.— Page 23. 

In Makculloch's MS., but unfortunately a leaf is 
toiTi out, which contained the last four stanzas, and, pro- 
bably, some other poems. It is found entire in Bann. 
MS., fol. 55, and in the duplicate portion, p. 42; also 
in Maitl. MS., No. 67. Pinkerton supplies us with the 
following various readings : — Line 2, Feildis so frescke ; 
line 8, Rychi suttelie; line 28, Bayth frak^ forsy^ and f re ; 
line 57, This ancient man gaif answer angrelie. " The 
other," Pinkerton says, "is nonsense." Line 4:2, Sail 
obay ; line 50, Luvis layr ; line 56, With birdis Myth in 
boure my bail to beit ; line 60, Sail thee depryvefor para- 
mour ; line 62, Sail mynis (diminish) ; line 63, Then sail 
thou say ; line 65, This gaylart grutchit, and began to 
greif And on full sone he went his wayis; line 66, But 
weine ; line 69, That talkin suiihlie fra that I had sein ; 
line 70, In treuth, me thocht, theg trevist in thair toun. 

Line 6. That all of mirth cowth mene.'\ " Wholly in- 
tent upon jollity." — Halles. 

Line 11. And lyart lokis hoir."] " Lyart, from the A.S., 
fee, capillus, and har, canus. There is somewhat of 
tautology in the passage." — Hailes. 

Line 16. And faidis ferly sone.'\ Or wondi'ous soon. 
In this, and in lines 32, 48, 64, and 72, Bannatyne's MS. 
reads, " and faidis fellone sone." 

Line 28. Ane freik on feld.'] " This appears to have 
been a fashionable expression. G. Douglas says (p. 
239, line 27),— 

Ha! waldthou fecht, quod the freik. 

The word has nearly the same signification as brave had 



244 NOTES. 

in the days of Brantome, or tall man in the days of 

Shakespeare. The only remains of the word in modem 
English are— freak, a whim, smd freakish, capricious." — 
Hailes. 

The arrangement of these four stanzas vary in the 
different MSS. In MakcuUoch's MS., lines 49 to 56 
come after line 32, — a leaf in the MS., containing the 
conclusion of the poem, being lost. In Banuatyne's 
MS. lines 43-48 come after line 64, but in the text the 
arrangement of Maitland's MS. is given properly, as 
(Pinkerton says) is plain from the words, " ane othir 
verse." 

Line 39. And so with birds hlythly my hailis beitJ] 
" Bride is used in Chaucer for bird, and birde for a 
mistress. In an old Scottish song ' Burd Isobel ' means 
a young lady called Isabella. Burd is still used as an 
appellation of complacency by superiors to women of lower 
degree. Mersar, in his ' Perrell in Paramours,' speaks 
of ' birdis bricht in bowris ; ' by which he means young 
women in their chambers. Bailis beit: abate my fires ; 
in poetical language, ' to quench my amorous flames,' 
which may be otherwise expressed in blunt English." — 
Hailes. '■'■Bailis Beit: abate my fires ; so says Lord 
Hailes, but erroneously. It probably means the very 
reverse,— to help, increase, or rouse my amorous fire. 
To beit the fire is an expression still quite common." — 

SiBBALD. 

Line 42. This breif thow sail obey sone, be thow bald.'} 
" Young man thou shalt one day acknowledge the jus- 
tice of my saying, however vigorous thou mayest seem 
at present." — Hailes. 

Line 46. Thy helth sail hynk, and tak a hurt but hone.'] 
" Thy health shall incontinently haste away, nor will 
there be any relief or intermission from disease. Hynk 
is from the A.S. higaw, festinare ; hence to hie : but hone 



NOTES. 245 

means ' without ho.' Mr Ruddiman observes, Glossary 
to G. Douglas^ that ' but hone ' is metri gratis, for ho : 
p. 222, line 9,— 

Drif thir chiftanis of this land but hone. 

The word Jio is aa ell known ; it is an interjection, com- 
manding to desist. It was used by the judge of the lists, 
in the days of chivalry, when he ordered the champions 
to cease from combat. In French Iwla, or ho la. Bas- 
sompierre relates, that when Charles I. and he were 
talking warmly, Buckinghame stept in and cried, ' Je 
mets V/iola entre vous deux.' Herein this petulant 
minister assumed the character of judge of the lists be- 
tween his master and an ambassador. — Hailes. 

Line 65.] Dr Jamieson, in his Dictionary, sub. v. 
Gowand^ s., quotes these lines : — 

This gowand grathit with sic grit greif, 
He on his wayis wrethly went, but weue. 

And adds, — " Lord Hailes gives this passage as not 
understood. Gowand may signify traveller ; Dan. gaa- 
ende, going. The writer says, st. I., — 

Muvand allone, in mornyng myld, I met 
A mirry man 

Or, it may signify a youth^ as opposed to aidd man ; 
Germ, jugend^ juventus ; Moes G. juggons. Thus the 
sense may be: 'This Youth, having received the pre- 
parative of such a grevious lecture fi'om Age, who fore- 
told so many calamities, ^yent on his way with displea- 
sure." — Rev. Dr Jamieson. 



THE RESSONING BETWIX DETH AND 

MAN.— Page 27. 

Bann. MS., fol. 56, with Henryson's name, and re- 
peated in the same MS. at p. 43. 



246 NOTES. 

Line 43. To lurk under thy caip.'] " Under thy cope. 
A coffin is here meant. Knox, in his ' History,' re- 
peatedly uses a cope of leid for a lead coffin." — Hailes. 

THE THREE DED) POWIS.— Page 30. 

Bann. MS., fol. 57 b; Maitl. MS., Xo. 149.— In the 
foi-mer it is ascribed to Patrick Johnstoun ; in the lat- 
ter — and I think correctly — to Henryson. The name, 
however, of Patrick Johnstonn occurs in Dunbar's 
" Lament for the Makars," and also in the Treasurer's 
Accounts, 1488-1492. — See note in Dunbai-'s Poems, 
vol. ii., p. 359. The following various readings in Maitl. 
BIS. are quoted from Pinkerton, p. 465 : — Line 24, dele 
thy; line 27, So elegant; line 33, 0! vnlfull; line 36, 
Aganis death; line 41, Can absolve; line 52, And greit; 
line 66, Of his Godheid to rew and glorifie ; line 59, For 
mercie cry and pray. 

Line 1.] "The fancy of introducing three death's- 
heads is odd ; and the more so, because they all speak 
at once. The sentiments are such as the contemplation 
of mortality naturally produces. If likeness inferred 
imitation, Shakespeare, in the scene of the grave-diggers, 
might be supposed to have copied from Patrick John- 
stonn — an obscure versifier, of whom he never heard." — 
Hailes. 

THE SALUTATION OF THE VIRGIN.— Page 33. 

This is probably an early performance, and presents 
a singular specimen of metrical composition. It is one 
of four religious poems preserved by JNIr Ja:mes Gray in 
his little MS. volume of Collections.— Se« above, p 228. 



NOTES. 247 



THE WANT OF WYSE MEN.— Page 36. 

Bann. MS., fol. 78, and printed copy by Chepman 
and Myllar at Edinburgh in 1508. — Both copies are 
anonymous ; but the latter is subjoined to Henryson's 
*' Orpheus and Eurydice," as if by the same author.- 
(See p. 250). It evidently belongs to the reign of James 
the Third, when the unsettled state of public affairs might 
give too much truth to the burden of each verse, " That 
want of wyse men caused fools to sit on benches." 

V.R. — Line 1, Me werveilUs of^ MS., B. ; line 7, in 
the 1508 edit.. Now sole is sorow; line 13, Was peax 
(peace) ; lines 49-64. These two stanzas are not given 
in the 1508 edition, while lines 68 and 69, read thus : 
Is infynite^ salbe^ and ever wes^ As in the principall men- 
cion of the Messe; and line 72, Sen want of wise [men'] 
mdkis [fidis\ sit in binkis. 



ANE PRAYER FOR THE PEST.— Page 39. 

Bakn. MS., fol. 24. — The author's name is added in 
a different hand; and the duplicate copy in the same 
MS., p. 20, is anonymous. Its authorship, therefore, 
maybe considered as doubtful. During the fifteenth 
century, on at least three occasions, the plague of pesti- 
lence proved very fatal in different parts of the country. 

In one of these copies '' Finis" occurs at the end of 
line 64, but the three additional verses are given in both. 
They serve as a peroration or conclusion, and various 
instances of such jingling rhymes might be quoted. It 
is sufficient to refer to passages in the " Fly tings of 
Dunbar and Kennedy," lines 233-248, 513-14, 645-552 ; 
and also to Dunbar's Ballad of our Lady, Haile^ sterne 
superne! — (vol. i., p. 239). 



248 NOTES. 

In the two copies iu Bann. MS. there are a few varia- 
tions. Line S6^ And thy; line 76, Falsly and hegyle; 
line 77, Devyse, to win us fra that byle ; line 84, And 
thow be Juge^ dislug us of this sieid; line 86, For we re- 
pent^ all tyme mispent. 

SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE.— Page 43. 

Bann. MS., fol. 141b. — ^This is a strange performance, 
and would require the knowledge and research of Dr 
Simpson to explain the various technical and outlandish 
phrases made use of ; but I do not think it would repay 
his trouble. 

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE.— Page 49. 

The classical story of " Orpheus," as related by Virgil 
in the fourth book of his Georgicks, was very popular 
during the middle ages, and is to be found in various 
languages. Lord Bacon, in his book " The Wisdom 
of the Ancients" (De Sapientia Veterum) introduces 
*' Orpheus or Philosophy," as one of those poetical fables 
which preceded the records of history, and which he 
endeavoured to shew had a certain hidden or involved 
meaning. Other writers had previously made a similar 
attempt, but less successfully. ISTatalis Comes, in his 
learned work on ancient mythology, devotes a chapter 
to " Orpheus," and mentions some of the meanings at- 
tached to this fable. ^ 

The following is an extract from the translation of 
Lord Bacon's work, by Sir Arthur Gorges, in 1619 : — 

" The tale of Orpheus, though common, had never the 
fortune to be fitly applied in every point. It may seem 

1 Natalis Comitis Mythologiae, sive Explicationis Fabularum Libri 
Decern (lib. vii., cap. xiv., p. 765 : Francofuxti, 15S7, 8vo). This work 
was first published at Venice, 1581, 4to. 



NOTES. 249 

to represent the Image of Philosophy ; for the person of 
Orpheus (a man admirable and divine, and so excellently 
skilled in all kinds of harmony, that with his sweet 
ravishing musick he did as it were charm and allure all 
things to follow him) may carry a singular description of 
Philosophy : For the labours of Orpheus do far exceed 
the labours of Hercules in dignity and efficacy, as the 
works of wisdom excel the works of fortitude. 

" Orpheus^ for the love he bare to his wife, snatched, as 
it were, from him by untimely death, resolved to go down 
to Hell with his harp, to try if he might obtain her of the 
Infernal powers. Neither were his hopes frustrated, &c. 

" The meaning of this fable seems to be thus : Orpheus' s 
music is of two sorts — the one appeasing the Infernal 
powers, the other attracting beasts and trees. The first 
may be fitly applied to Natural Philosophy, the second 
to Moral or Civil Discipline." 

The fable of " Orpheus " was changed by the old 
minstrels into a tale of faery, and it exists in old English 
verse in three different forms : — ^The first, " Orpheo and 
Heurodis," which contains 566 lines, was printed from 
the Auchinleck MS. in " Select Eemains of the Ancient 
Popular Poetry of Scotland, 1822;" the second, " Sir 
Orpheo," 510 lines, from the Harleian MS., is included 
inRitson's " Ancient English Metrical Romances, 1802," 
vol. ii., p. 248 ; the thii'd, " King Orfew," among the Ash- 
molean MSS., lxi., No. 38,^ is, I believe, still unpub- 
lished. The Rev. J. J. Conybeare, a most accomplished 
scholai', in referring to the volume, says that this ro- 
mance "is altogether different from the translation (for 
they are both probably translated from some French 
original) published by Ritson." ^ No such original has 

1 Catalogue of MSS. in the Ashmolean Library, Oxford, by W. H. 
Black, p. UO; MS., No. 63, f. 151. 

2 British Bibliographer, vol. iv., p. 95. 



250 NOTES. 

been discovered, although it professes to be one of the 
Breton (or " Biyton ") lays. The Scottish poet adheres 
more closely to the classical fable. 

Henryson's poem forms pai't of a volume which con- 
tains the earliest specimens of Scottish Typography, hav- 
ing been printed at Edinburgh by our first printers, 
Walter Chepman and Andrew Myllar, in the year 1508. 
It has this title : — 

Incite begpnnis tf)e traitie of ©rpi)eus( fegng anti 

i)oto f)t geitr to i^etogn & to i)el to sti^ f)is (juene ^nli 

atxe otf)ct haWdCa in i^t Uttix tnU. 
It is in quarto, twelve leaves. The ballad mentioned is 
that given in the present volume at p. 36, " The Want 
of Wyse Men." — ^See note, p. 247. As the only existing 
copy known of this early edition of " Orpheus" is de- 
fective of the thu'd and fourth leaves, these, in the fac- 
simile reprint of Chepman and Myllar's tracts, were 
supplied from Asloan's MS., fol. 247, where it has 
this title : " Heir foUowis the buke of Oi-pheus (in the 
old table of contents, ' Sh- Orpheus ') and Eurydices his 
queue." In Bannatyne's MS., fol. 317, we not only 
have the author's name, but it supplies a number of 
additional lines in the "Moralitas" of the poem, as will 
be specified in these notes. 

There is a rare English poem on the same subject, of 
which the title may be added, " Orpheus his Journey to 
Hell, and his Musicke to the Ghosts for the requuing of 
faure Euridice his Love, and new spoused Wife, by R. 
B., gent. London, printed by Richard Johnes, 1595," 
4to, 14 leaves. The only perfect copy known is in INIr 
Christy IMiller's library at Britwell, Buckinghamshire. 
A copy wanting the title, and dedication by the printer 
" to Anthony Copley, Esq.," is in the British Museum. 

Asloan's MS. for the text has been chiefly followed. 
Of the minute various readings, a few may be noted : — 



NOTES. 251 

Line 25, Garage^ tarage^ knowledge : line 38, Namyt, 
named^ clippit; line 54, Coud^ coude^ couth; line 58, 
Oure langage, Greek language^ — ib. TFe/e, rycht: line 
71, Incressand sone to manheid up he drewe : line 79, 
Quhen that, And quhen ; line 84, Thus thai can accord ; 
line 97, Arresteus ; liae 102, And to his cave her drawe ; 
line 116, King Orpheus can; line 134, Mony dulful; 
line 140, Mony teris; line 147, Thae vailyeit; line 225, 
Plato, Pluto ; line 230, Of all thir sex ; line 234, Duplate : 
line 261, He passit furth on til a ryver deip, — ib., icoun- 
der deip ; line 267, Rollit, rowit, roUands ; line 270, 
Seisit, ceissit; line 275, Nocht far from thyne he come unto 
a flude; line 278, Stude alone; line 280, Dowkit; line 
297, He tuke his harpe ; lines 295 and 302, Theseus, 
Tityus, COTT. to Tereus; line 331, Thair saw he; line 347, 
Quhair he couth pas ; line 361. Scho fairis . . . as dois ; 
line 365, Wald rewert; line 372, Cowth him heir or se ; 
line 374, Wald haif; line 387, Outwartporf; line 394, 
Great pity for to here; line 402, Sweit, crewali; line 410, 
On f arse mone tume the ee; line 415, Now worthy; line 
421, Triwit, tritat, troicit; line 435, Arestyus; line 449, 
Wit, and eke; line 456, In tJii worldly breris ; line 463, 
Feinyeid : line 469, Bot quhen our mynd is myngit with 
sapience ; line 470, And playis ; line 487, Thai wait : 
line 496, And soucht; line 501, Sentowris ; line 506, Ay 
tamed ; line 508, Harp of conscience: lines 509 to 514 
supplied from Baxx. MS. ; line 523, He till his ; line 
525, Syne in a: line 534, Tak in herbery : line 546. 
Smytis upon, — ib., harp of eloquence: lines 547 to 550 
supplied from Bann. MS. ; lines 571 to 615 supplied 
from Baxn-. MS. ; line 616, But Orpheus: line 620, Wise 
and warly: line 623 (wardly, a typ. err., for warldly), Off 
fleschly : line 630, That He wald underput His holy hand: 
line 631, Forse to stand. 

Line 35. Fair douchters nyne."] " Musse, arum. f. pi. 



252 NOTES. 

[Moycra/, Gr.] The Muses, daughters of Jupiter and 
Mnemosyne ; the feigned presidents of music and poetry, 
and the mistresses of the liberal sciences. They were 
originally only three. — Varr. ap. Serv. ad. Virg. ^n. 7, 
21. How this number came to be multiplied by itself, is 
variously related. Their proper names are Calliope^ 
Clio^ Erato^ Euterpe^ Melpomene^ Polyhymnia^ Terp- 
sichore, Thalia^ Urania, — which names are thought to 
be given them by Hesiod. Theog., 77, from their several 
presidencies and offices. Their common names are many 
and various, taken from places ; as Aganippides, Aonides, 
Cythcerides, or Cythceriades, Libethrides, Heliconides, or 
Heliconiades, Pegasides, Pierides, Pimpleides, et si qua 
sunt alia, de quibus vide suis quaeque locis." — Ainsworth's 
Latin Dictionary (ISTom. Propria). Gawyn Douglas, in 
one of his marginal glosses on the margin of his transla- 
tion of Virgil's ^neis (MS. Cambridge), alludes to 
Henryson's " Orpheus" when, upon the line " O! thou 
my Muse," he adds : — " JMusa, in Grew [Greik] signifies 
an inventryce, or invention, in om- langgage. And of 
the IX Musis, sumething in my Palyce of Honour 
& be Mastir Robert Hendirson in Xew Orpheus." 
These unfinished Glosses do not occur in any of the other 
MSS., and are now printed in the Banuatyue Club edi- 
of the " yEneis," 1839, 2 vols. 4to. 

Line 206. By Wadlying Strete.] " Watling Street is a 
name given to one of the great Roman ways in Britain. 
— (Horsley's 'Roman Antiquities of Britain,' p. 387: 
Lond. 1732, fol.) This passage, which to some persons 
may appear so unintelligible, will be best explained by a 
quotation from Chaucer's " House of Fame," bookii. : — 

Lo ! quod he, caste up thyne eye, 
Se yonder, lo ! the Galaxie, 
The which men clepe the Milky Way, 
For it is whyte ; and some parfay 
Callen it Watlynge Strete. 



NOTES. 253 

In the Towneley Mysteries, p. 308, one demon thus 
addi'esses another : — 

Let us go to this dome up Watlyn Strete. 

Bishop Douglas has employed the same expression in 
translating a passage in the third book of the ^neid, 
where the original contains no corresponding term : — 

Sidera cuncta nota tacito labentia ccelo, 

Arcturum, pluviasque Hyadas, geminosque Triones, 

Armatumque auro circumspicit Oriona. 

Of every sterne the twynkling notis he, 
That in the stil hevin moue cours we se, 
Arthweys hufe, and Hyades betaiknyng rane, 
Syne Watling Strete, the Home and the Charle wane, 
The feirs Orioun witli his goldine glaue. 

" An ancient Roman building, which once stood on 
the banks of the CaiTon, but was long ago demolished 
by the Gothic owner of the soil, bore the name of 
Arthur^s Hof^ or Arthur's Oon. ' It is remarkable,' says 
Mr Ritsou, ' that Gawin Douglas, Bishop of Dunkeld, a 
noted poet, has described this erection in the milky way.' 
—(Life of King Arthur, p. 76 : Lond. 1825, 8vo). But 
it is necessary to recollect that Virgil mentions the star 
Arcturus, and that his translator could make no reference 
to the hero of the Round Table." — Dr Irving (Hist. 
Scotish Poetry, p. 219). 

Lines 220-222. A hevynly melody. . . . be Rolling of 
the Speris.'] " Here wyse men I telle that Pictagoras 
passed somtyme by a smythes hous, and herde a SAvete 
sowne, and accordynge in the smytyng of four hamers 
upon an anvelt ; and therefore he lette weye the hamers, 
and founde that one of the hamers weyed twyes soo 
moche as a nother ; a nother weyed other half so moche 
as a nother ; and a nother weyed so moche as a nother 
and the thyrde dele of a nother. As though the fyrste 



254 



NOTES. 



M 



hamer were of sixe pounde, the seconde of twelve, the 
thyrde of eight, the fourth of ix., as this fygare sheweth. 

m When these accordes 

were founden, Pictago- 
ras jaf hem names. 
And so that he called 
in nomber double, he 
called in sownes Dyapa- 
son; and that he called 
in nombre other half, 
he called in sowne Dy- 
apente ; and that that 
in nombre is called all 
and the thyrde dele, 
hete in sownes Dya- 
tesseron ; and that that 
in nombres is called 
all and the eyghteth 
dele, hete in tewnes 
double Dyapason," &c. 
— Polychronicon, by 
Ran. Higden ; (edit. 



c3 












l-i95). Enprynted at Westmestre by Wynkyn Theworde. 
— Fol. Ct. 

" The Pythagoreans, in whose view number was the 
source of knowledge, and constituted the essence of 
things, applied theii' theory of numbers, and their all- 
pervading doctrine of numerical proportions, to the 
geometric consideration of the five early recognised 
regular bodies, to the musical intei-vals of tones deter- 
mining harmony and forming different families of sound, 
and even to the structure of the Universe itself — deem- 
ing that the moving, and, as it seemed, oscillating 
planets causing waves of sound, must, by the harmonic 
ratios of their intervals of space, call forth a ' music of 
the spheres.' ' This music,' they added, ' would be 



NOTES. 255 

audible to the human ear, were it not that, because it is 
perpetual, and because, therefore, man is accustomed to 
it from earliest infancy, it remains unheeded.' " — (Hum- 
boldt's Cosmos, translated by Colonel E. Sabine, vol. 
iii. pp. 315, 317, and cxv.) 

Lines 415-417. Boece that noble Senature^ In his gay 
Buke of Consolatioun.'] Anicius Manlins Severinus Boe- 
thius, one of the latest classical authors, was a Roman 
senator, and born about the year 475. He completed 
his studies at Athens, where he acquired his knowledge 
of Greek philosophy. He filled several important offices 
at Rome, but in absence, he was, on suspicion of con- 
spiracy, banished from the Roman State by Theodoric 
King of the Ostrogoths in 523. Dm-ing his exile at 
Ticinium, now Pavia, in Italy, he wrote his most cele- 
brated treatise, the De Consolatione PhilosophicB^ in five 
books, partly in prose, partly in verse C" Dictio est 
varia, modo soluta, modo pedibus adstricta ; ipse Prosam 
vocat et Metrum." — P. Bertius, edit, cum notis Var. 
Lugd. Batav. 1671, 8vo). About two years after his 
banishment, Boethius was beheaded in prison, by the 
command of Theodoric. A splendid monument was 
afterwards erected to his memory. " The tomb of 
Boetius (says his translator Richard Lord Viscount 
Preston, in 1695) is to be seen at this day in the chmxh 
of St Augustine at Pavia, near to the steps of the chan- 
cel, with the following epitaph, Maeonia et Latia^'' &c., 
and this account is usually repeated; but see Valery, 
" Voyage en Italic," tome i., p. 209. The tale of " Or- 
pheus " is Metrum xii. (58 lines) of book III. This work 
of Boethius was translated into Anglo-Saxon by Alfred 
the Great, into English prose by Chaucer, and into most 
European languages. Chaucer, in his " Canterbury 
Tales," lines 6750 and 15,248, calls him Boece. In like 
manner our historian Hector Boethius is called Boece by 
his translator, Bellenden. 



256 NOTES. 

Line 421. Yet Maister Trivet, doctour Nicliolas.'] " In 
Chepman's edition, 1508, the line is printed, Yit Maister 
trowit Doctor Nicholas. This misled Dr Irving to quote 
a notice of Nicholas Crescius of Florence, a monk of the 
Cistercian order, who published an edition of Boethius, 
the text adjusted from a collation of the most ancient 
manuscripts " — (Preface to Hemyson's Fables, p. ix., 
and " History of Scotish Poetry," p. 221),— but this 
Florentine edition was not published till several years 
after the death of Hem-yson.^ The author whom the 
Scottish poet mentions was an Englishman, Nicholas 
Trivetus, a learned monk of the Dominican order, or 
Black Friars. He designates himself " Frater Nicolaus 
Trevet, de ordine Fratrum Predicatorum." He flomished 
between the years 1258 and 1328, and is chiefly known 
as the author of Latin Annals of the Six Kings of 
England, of the House of Anjou, (De Sex Regibus Ang- 
lorum, &c. 1136-1307). He is said to have died in 
1328, aged 70. Among his other works were commen- 
taries on the " Tragedies " of Seneca, on the " Metamor- 
phoses" of Ovid, and on Boethius : " In Librum Boethii 
de Consolatione Philosophise." It seems never to have 
been printed, but MS. copies are preserved in some of 
the English Libraries. That it was known in Scotland 
appears from the inventory of books belonging to the 
Cathedral Chm-ch of Glasgow, drawn up in the year 
1442, in which we find, " Item, Liber Boetii cum glossa 
Trevet," then remaining in the hands of one of the 
canons, dming the pleasure of the Chapter.^ 

1 " Boethius de Philosophiea Consolatione. — Impressum Florentiae 
opera et impensa PhUippi Giuntae, Anno salutis M.D.VII mense 
Decembris," 8vo. Prefixed is the address of" Nicolaus Crescius Flor- 
entinus Antonio Lanfredino Florentino Civi Ulustri," dated in Decem- 
ber 1507. (Baudini luntarum Typographiae Annales, pars ii. p. 23. — 
Panzeri Annales Typographici, vol. vii. p. 10;. 

2 Chartulary of Glasgow, vol. ii. p. 336. 



NOTES. 257 



THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID.— Page 73, 

No early MS. copy of Henryson's poem is kuown ; and 
I have examined several MSS. of Chaucer's " Troilus," 
of which it is a continuation, in the chance of discover- 
ing it. Had it been one of the earlier works of the 
Scottish poet, it would most likely have occurred in the 
volume of Chaucer's " Troilus," and other poems (Selden. 
Arch., B. 24, Bodl. MSS.), which appears to have been 
written in Scotland, and contains the only copies known 
of "The King's Quair" and "The Quair of Jelousy." 
Henryson's poem has been added to a fine MS. on vellum 
of Chaucer's "Troilus" in the Library of St John's 
College, Cambridge (L. 1.) ; but the copy is evidently 
transcribed from one of the printed editions of Chaucer's 
Works in a hand of the seventeenth century. 

Henryson's " Cresseid," we may presume, was printed 
by Chepman and Myllar, with other popular works 
which are not now preserved. It also was transcribed 
by Asloan (1515) in that portion of his manuscript 
which is lost, according to the old table of contents, — 
"Item, THE Testament of Cresseid, [No.] xxiiij." 
In a printed form it first appears in the collected edition of 
Chaucer's Works, edited by William Thjome, and printed 
at London by Thomas Godfray, 1632, folio. Curiously 
enough, it must have been added, probably as one 
of the " dy vers works which were never in print before," 
after the volume was ready for circulation. In most of 
the copies fol. cc.xix was cancelled, and in reprinting it 
the colophon of Chaucer's poem reads, " Thus endeth the 
fyfth and laste booke of Troylus ; and here foloweth the 

PYTEFUL AND DOLOROUS TESTAMENT OF FAYRE CrE- 

SEYDE." This interpolation fills four leaves, the last 
three being unpaged ; so that sign. Q.q. has nine leaves in 
place of six. There is no indication given of the author, 

R 



258 NOTES. 

and the poem retained its place in all the subsequent 
editions of the great English poet. It has even been 
quoted as his composition by such antiquarians as Strutt 
and Douce, although Henrjson's name had at length 
been attached to it in Urry's edition, 1721. 

The earliest known edition of Henryson's " Cresseid " 
printed in Scotland is that of Henry Charteris, 1593, of 
which there is a unique copy preserved in the British 
Museum. It was reprinted page for page in the volume 
presented by Mr Chalmers to the Bannatyne Club in 
1825. The title is as follows :— 

C CJe Cestament of 

CRESSEID, 

Compylit be M. Robert 

Henrysone, Sculemai- 

ster in Dunfer- 

meling. 

^^ 

^^ 

3(mpitntit at €Un- 

burgh be Henrie Charteris. 
M.D.XCIII. 

In 4to, ten leaves, black-letter. 
In 1599 Robert Smyth, printer in Edinburgh, ob- 
tained a grant of the privilege of printing the " Testa- 



NOTES. 259 

ment of Cresseid," the " Fabillis of Esope," and other 
works. After his death this privilege was transferred in 
1603, by his widow and his children's tutor, to Thomas 
Finlayson, who, in 1609, obtained a renewal of the grant 
for twenty-four years, under the Privy Seal. — (Dr Lee's 
" Memorial," &c., App., p. 24). In the confirmed Testa- 
ments of Edinburgh booksellers and printers, printed 
in the Banuatyne Miscellany, vol. ii., the titles and 
value of the books in stock are sometimes specified ; and 
these furnish various proofs how completely copies of 
many popular books have disappeared. For instance Ko- 
bert Gourlay, in 1585, had three copies of " The Testa- 
ment of Cresseid," valued at 4d. each, summa xiid. ; 
Henry Charteris, in 1599, had 545 copies, estimated at 
the same price, summa £ix : i : viij ; and Kobert Smyth, 
in 1602, had 1638 copies, but not separately valued. 
Yet of so many hundi-ed copies, only the above solitary 
copy of the edition 1593 is known. In the Harleian 
Catalogue, vol. iv., p. 644, No. 13,734, we find " Henri- 
son's Testament of Cresseid, black-letter : Edinb. 1605," 
8vo ; and in vol. v. p. 378, No. 12,728, " Testament of 
Cresseid, black-letter: Edinb. 1611," 8vo. These edi- 
tions have not been met with, but Mr Chalmers assigned 
them to Robert Charteris in 1605, and Thomas Finlay- 
son in 1611. There is a later edition apparently at 
Glasgow by Andrew Anderson, with this title, in the 
library of Trinity College, Cambridge, v. 15, a, 55, — 
" The Testament of Cresseid. Compyled by Mas- 
ter Robert Henrison, schoolemaster of Dunfermeling. 
Printed in the year 1663." Small 8vo, black-letter, pp. 24. 
Su' Francis Kynaston, who flourished in the reign of 
Charles the Fu'st, translated into Latin rhyme, " Amo- 
rum Troili et Cressidae Libri duo priores, Anglico-Latini. 
Oxonias, excudebat Johannes Lichfield, anno domini 
1635," 4to. From Kynaston's manuscript it appears 



260 NOTES. 

that he had completed his version both of Chaucer's 
" TroUiis" and of Henryson's " Cresseid," each stanza 
being " interspersed with curious and intelligent re- 
marks." The MS., with the imprimatur 1640, at length 
fell into the hands of Mr F. G. Waldron, who printed in 
1796 a specimen of the work, with many interesting par- 
ticulars, but he did not meet with sufficient encourage- 
ment to proceed with the publication of the entire work. 
The MS. was sold in London at the sale of JMi- Singer's 
Library a few years ago, and it is to be regretted that it 
has again fallen into private hands, which may render it 
inaccessible. 

The variations between the Edinburgh and English 
editions are chiefly in the orthography ; but the follow- 
ing may be noticed : — Line 8, Me defende: line 10, Scylid: 
line 17, Northrin: line 18, Sheddehis: line 20, Whisking: 
line 32, Dul and ded: line 36, I made: line 45, Out of 
his : line 49, He lived, and while : line 52, Most of al 
ertJily : line 60, Forged of: line 70, She was in, or she 
deide : line 77, In the courte as commune : line 87, Brutil- 
nesse: line 94, Or refute: line 95, Dishevelid passid out 
ofthetoun: line 117, The Church: line 144, Tinking a 
silver bel: line 154, With austryne loke: line 155, His 
face frounsid: line 156, Shivered: line 160, Iseickils: 
line 178, Gaie of grene : line 190, Brande : line 192, A 
blubbir : line 194, Right tulsure like (stode) : line 217, 
Rollith: line 245, A Poete of the oldefasioun: line 278, 
By yondir wretche: line 328, So sho with through thy: 
line 349, Her visage: line 350, In hert were wo, I note 
God wate : line 357, My Goddes to chyde : line 363, 
Sayth your bedis : Une SS4:, In this yerth : line 385, Wicked 
werth: line 401, Orwhelid all: line 410, Blake and bare: 
line 414, Bale unberde : line 416, Wher men : line 421, 
With saverie sauce: line 449, No peple hath liking : line 
450, /So sped in sight: line 4bl, Lepir folke: line 479, 



NOTES. 261 

Go lerne : line 489, Thei rode : line 490, Lepir stode : 
line 501, In soche plight: line 518, Not one anothir knewe : 
line 519, Knighthi pite: line 522, Doun gan shake: line 
541, Cold atone: line 570, As grete brutilnesse: line 577, 
Here I hequeth my corse : line 590, In tokining : line 600, 
His herie to brast : line 614, This sore conclusion^ 

Line 307. With seikness incurabilL'] The loathsome 
disease of leprosy, during the Middle Ages, seems to have 
prevailed extensively, and leper or spitall houses were 
erected on the outskirts of several of the principal towns, 
both in Scotland and England. Professor J. Y. Simpson, 
M.D., has investigated the subject, with his accustomed 
research and learning, in three articles which appeared 
with the title of " Antiquarian Notices of Leprosy, &c." 
in the "Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal," for 
1841 (in Nos. 149, 150, and 151). Dr Simpson has not 
overlooked this poem of Henryson, and, in particular, he 
quotes lines 338-342 as affording proof that " the leprosy 
in this country was, as on the Continent, truly the Greek 
Elephantiasis." 

Line 382. Unto yone Hospitall at the townes end; line 
891. ^^ the Spittail housJ] There is reason to believe that 
a spittail house existed in Dunfermline ; and the name 
Spittal Street, at the east end of the town, is still re- 
tained. This may have afforded Henryson an oppor- 
tunity of personally witnessing the victims of this fright- 
ful malady. The most noted victim of this disease in 
Scotland was King Robert Bruce. All authorities agree in 
stating that he suffered under a " lang sekness " (Wyn- 
toun); of "la gross maladie," or "sore gi'eved with 
the great sickness" (Froissart and his translator Lord 
Berners); "lepra percussus " (Hemingford) "factusest 
leprosus;" and again, "mortuus est Dominus Robertus 
Brus, Rex Scotise, leprosus " (Chron. de Lanercost) ; 
and in other authorities quoted by Dr Simpson. 



262 NOTES. 

Lines 433 to 437, 444, 446, 447, 452, and 469, are 
omitted in the English editions printed along with Chau- 
cer's "Troilus," and line 456 follows 460. 

Line 483. CompelUt hir to he ane rank beggair.'] In the 
old Burrow Lawis of Scotland, cap. 64, it is enjoined, 
that " Leper folke sail nocht gang fra dure to dure, but 
sail sit at the posts of the Bui-gh, and seik almes (with 
cap and clapper) fra thame that passes in and forth." 
And James the First, anno 1427, Act 106, ordains that 
" na Lipper folk sit to thig (beg) nouther in kirk nor 
kirkyard, nor uther place within the buiTowes, but at 
thair awin hospital, or at the port of the towne." 

" Most of the Scottish leper-houses," says Dr Simp- 
son, " were very poorly or not at all endowed. Then- 
principal subsistence seems to have been derived from 
casual alms. Each of the doomed inmates of the hos- 
pitals was, like the leper-struck heroine of the old Scot- 
tish poet, Henryson, by 

cauld and hounger sair 



Compellit to be ane rank beggair. 

The inmates of the Greenside or Edinburgh lazar-house 
were allowed four shillings Scots (about fom'pence Ster- 
ling) per week, and for the remainder of theii' subsistence 
they were, according to the original rules of the institu- 
tion, obliged to beg at the gate of their hospital." 

THE MORAL FABLES OF ^SOP.-Page 99. 

The collection of Latin Fables, under the name of 
-3^sop, seems to have been fii-st printed at Home in the 
year 1473, and was frequently republished, and trans- 
lated into most European languages. The Greek text 
passed through the press at Mian, as eai'ly, it is sup- 
posed, as 1480. Availing himself of a French version, 
Caxton made his translation, which was printed by him 



NOTES. 263 

at Westminster in 1484, with woodcuts, under this title : 
" Here begynneth the book of the subtyl Historye and 
Fables of Esope. Translated out of Frenssche into 
Englische by William Caxton," &c. The volume also 
contains the fables of " Avian," " Alfonce," and of " Poge 
the Florentyn." Facsimile specimens of the figure of 
Esope, and other woodcuts, are given in Dibdin's Typogr. 
Antiq. vol. i. p. 209. Of the numerous subsequent 
editions and translations it is unnecessary to enlarge. 
But in studying the history of this popular class of lite- 
rature, one of the most important works is the collection 
of "Fables Inedites des xip xni® et xiv® Si^cles, et 
Fables de La Fontaine rapprochees de celles de tons les 
Auteurs qui avoient, avant lui, traite les memes sujets ; 
precedees d'une ;N"otice sur les Fabulistes, par A. C. M. 
Robert :" Paris, 1825, 2 vols. 8vo. The work is illus- 
trated with facsimiles of designs to the fables copied 
from a MS. of the thirteenth century. The editor seems 
not to have been aware of the existence of Henryson's 
Fables. 

Many other books on this subject might be specified. 
I shall merely notice one of the publications of the Percy 
Society, No. xxviii., " A Selection of Latin Stories, 
from MS. of the xiii. and xiv. Centmies." Edited by 
Thomas Wright, Esq., 1842. This volume undoubtedly 
forms a valuable " contribution to the history of fiction 
daring the Middle Ages." 

The date of Henryson's Fables cannot be exactly 
ascertained. The most probable time is between the 
years 1470 and 1480, or during the reign of James the 
Third. It is not unlikely that they were printed by 
Chepman and Myllar. When the Fables were first 
collected for the press, that edition seems to have been 
followed by all the others without any material change. 
A copy somewhat mutilated, of perhaps the latest of the 



264 NOTES. 

old editions, and said to be "Newlie revised and cor- 
rected," was only discovered early this century. The 
imprint is wanting, but there is little doubt that it was 
"Edinburgh, printed by Andro Hart, 1621," 8vo, black- 
letter, pp. 96. A description of this copy appeared in 
the " Scots Magazine," 1813, p. 605. At the sale of Mr 
Constable's Library in 1827, it was acquired for the lib- 
rary of the Faculty of Advocates, being described in the 
sale catalogue as " the only copy of any printed edition of 
these Fables which it is believed is at present known to 
exist." It fetched the sum of £19, 10s. 

In the com'se of my own researches at an early 
period, I met with a volume in the libraiy of Sion Col- 
lege, London, containing an undescribed English ver- 
sion of Henryson's Fables, printed at London in 1577 ; 
and apparently derived from the edition of "^sop's 
Fables, Englished by IVIr Eobert Hem-ison : Edinb. 
1570," 8vo, of which a copy appears in the Catalogue 
of the library of Sir Andi'ew Balfour, M.D., p. 118, 
sold by auction at Edinbm-gh in 1695. In the note-book 
of Sir John Foulis of Colinton, there is the following 
entry : — "1673, January 6. For ^sop's Fables in Scots 
to Archie, with the cuts, £1 7 " (Scots, or 2s. 3d. 
sterl.) From one of these printed copies the MS. 
dated 1571, in the Harleian Collection, may have been 
transcribed. In 1599, Robert Smyth, bookseller and 
printer in Edinburgh, obtained a grant of the privilege 
of printing "TheFabillis of Esope," with other books. 
After his death this privilege was transfen-ed to Thomas 
Finlayson. In the inventoiy of stock of Robert Smith, 
librar (bookseller), who died May 1st 1602, we find 743 
copies of the "Fabilis of Isope," an edition now totaUy 
unknown. 

It is not many years since a copy of the Edinburgh 
edition of 1570 of the Fables was discovered in private 



NOTES. 265 

hands. I was most anxious to see the book, in the hope 
that it not only might have woodcuts, but supposing that 
Henry Charteris had been the collector, as well as pub- 
lisher, that he might have prefixed a preface containing 
notices of the author; but the book proved to have 
neither preface nor woodcuts, being one of those " Newlie 
Imprentit," that is, reprinted fi'om a previous edition. 
A minute description of these existing copies of the col- 
lected Fables may be given : — 

1. Henry Charteris's Edition, 1570. 

%i)t iKlorall jFabilto 
of feope tlje 3?!)rggt= 

att, €omp^Xit in i^Iaquent, an"tf Ornate ^cuiii^ 

^eter, fie Mai^ttv l^ts'bnt |^enri^0ne. 

^cf)aitmKiiUv oi Mnn^ 

fermeling. 

^ Dulcius Arrident Sena Picta Jocis. 

^ Vt Naufi'agii leuamen est Portus, Ita Tranquillitas 
animi seu Jucunditas est quasi Vitse Portus. 

Q SeVulie fmprentit 

at (iftfiitBurgft, fie tarrfiert Heifepreuilt, at tjbe ty^ 

Tj^m^i^ tsi Wnxit Cjbartert^ : atitf ar t0 fie 

^auttf lit jbt^ 35ttit]b> xfw tjbe i30rtb ^»tfe 

0f t^e gait, afione i^t STBtnne^ 

ANNO.DO.M.D.LXX. 

The only copy of this edition known is preserved in 

the library at Britwell, Buckinghamshire, having been 



266 NOTES. 

acquired by purchase by the late William Henry Miller, 
Esq. of Craigentinny. It is a small 4to, black-letter ; 
signatures A to N in fours, or 62 leaves, without any 
preface,, or woodcuts. 

The date on the title is 1570, but on the last leaf is 
this colophon : — 

Q f mprenttt at Ctiin= 

fturgjb be i^oBert BUelfepretiife, at tjbe CBjrpena'i^ oi 

^eitrte Cjbarteris", tl)e ybj* trap ct IBecein^? 

i>er : tf>t pit oi <§Btf nm t^nui^antf, 

2. Harleian Manuscript, 1571. 

In the British Museum, Harl. MSS. 3865 ; Pint, n ^' 
It has this title : " The Morall Fabillis of Esope, com- 
pylit be Maister Robert Henrisoun, Scolmaister of Dun- 
fermling: 1571," small folio, 75 leaves, with a rude 
drawing to two of the fables, of which an accurate repre- 
sentation somewhat reduced is here given. I lately re- 
examined this MS., but found nothing to identify it 
with the MS. which occm's in the Bibliotheca Arch. 
Pitcaniii, M.D., at p. 11, No. 304, the last of "Libri 
in folio," as " xEsop's Fables, compiled in Scottish 
verse by Eobert Henrisoun, Schoolmaster at Dunferm- 
liug, MS." (no date). In Dr Webster's account of the life 
and writings of Dr Pitcairne, 1781, it is said: — "He 
collected one of the finest private libraries in the world, 
which was purchased after his death by the Czar of Mus- 
covy." Whether this was the case I cannot say ; but 
judging from the printed catalogue, which has no title 
or date, the collection itself was nothing so remarkable. 



qg^ tJT rf f e 0: ai%^* 





ieTOtBmrflCii 





pieittjm^oftbf fwalUb 



altar 




NOTES. 267 

3. Richard Smith's Edition, 1577. 

A few years ago, when purposing to complete the pre- 
sent volume, I applied to the librarian and managers of 
Sion College for the use of this rare work, to have a 
minute collation of the text. The application was favour- 
ably received, but unluckily the book could not be found ; 
and more recently I had an opportunity of personally 
searching for it, but all in vain. It was well, therefore, in 
my younger days, when I stumbled upon this little black 
volume, that I made a careful abstract of its contents, 
which I shall here introduce, in case the book may not 
be recovered. It had the press-mark E B ix . 40. — (See 
Reading's Catalogue, 1724). 

Hf The Fabulous tales of 

Efope the Phrygian, Compiled 

mojie eloquently in Scottifhe 

Metre by Mafter Robert 

Henrifon, Ssr* now lately 

Englifhed. 

Every tale Moralized moft aptly to 

this present time, worthy 

to be read. 

[A neat oniament of Time bringing Truth to light. 
Motto, Occulta Veritas Tempora patet.] 

Imprinted at London by 

Richard Smith. 
Anno 1577. 



268 NOTES. 

Title, 4 leaves, and A to H 2 in eights, pp. 115 in sm. 
870, black-letter. 

On the back of the title are two twelve-line stanzas, 
in short metre» entitled, The Bookes Passport, — 

" That man neare wi'ote 
Whose wiyte pleasd all mens mynd," &c. 

followed by Smith's dedication " To Mr Kichard Stonely, 
Esquire, one of the fom-e tellers of the Q. Maiesties 
receyt of the Eschecker," &c., by R. S. : — 

*' There came," he says, " unto my hande a Scottishe 
pamphlet of the Fabulous Tales of Esope, a worke, Su-, 
as I thinke, in that language wherein it was written, 
verie eloquent and full of great invention. And no doubt 
you shall finde some smatch thereof, although veiy rudely 
I have obscm-ed the authour, and having two yeres since 
tm'ned it into Englishe, I have kept it unpublished, 
hoping some one els of greater skill would not have let 
it lyen dead. But whether most men have that Nation 
in derision for their hollowe hearts and ungratefull mindes 
to this Countrey alwayes had (a people very subject to 
that infection), or thinking scome of the authom- or fii'st 
inventer, let it passe, as frivolous and vaine matter : yet 
in my conceite there is learning for all sorts of people 
worthie of the memorie. Therefore, knowing not howe 
by any meanes to let you understand my good will to- 
warde you, but by this meanes, at last putting all feare 
aside, I boldly presente this unto your worship, hoping," 
&c. — Yours at commandement. Richard S^^nTH." 

On the next leaf are " The Contentes of the Booke ;" 
after which is subjoined 

The Argument between Esope and the 

Translatour. 
Late passing thorowe Panics Churchyarde 
Aside I cast mine eve. 



NOTES. 269 

And ere I wist, to me appearde 

Sii' Esope by and by, 
Apparelled both braue and fine, 

After the Scottish guise. 
I stoode then still, with ardent eyne 

I viewde him twise or thrise. 
" Behold," quoth he, " now am I here. 

And faine would meete some one 
To speake English that would me leare." 

With that quoth I anone : 
" Why, English, Sir, you speake right well — 

What more would you require?" 
" Yea, that's in prose : my tales to tell 

In verse I do desire." 
" Alasse ! I am not for your tourne ; 

Ye must repayre unto 
The Innes of Court and Chancer}'-, 

Where learned have to do. 
At Helicon I never came — 

The way I do not knowe ; 
(God Pan his servant, Sir, I am, 

And duetie to him owe). 
On oaten pipe we still do play, — 

That's all that he teach can ; 
Of other lore he takes no way 

This Growtnole rusticke Pan. 
Minervas impes they Orpheus keepe, 

In musicke they delite. 
To serve your turne before they sleepe, 

In verse to make you dite, 
Your Fables wise and eloquent 

With phrases feate and fine, 
Endewed with Apollo gent 

That passeth muse of mine." 
" Content your selfe," quoth Esope than, 



270 NOTES. 

" Do thus much once for me, 
To leame me verse so as ye can 

Myselfe as playne as ye ; 
They do not care for Scottish bookes, — 

They list not looke that way : 
But if they would but cast their lookes 

Some time when they do play, 
Somewhat to see perhaps they might 

That then would like them wel, 
To teach them treade thair way aright, 

To blisse, from paines of hel." 
" Farewel, good Phrygian Poet, now, 

I may no more sojounie." 
" If not," sayth Esope, " then adew, 

Into Scotland I'le retume." 
" Nay, rather will I venture hard 

And bring your minde to passe. 
If that I gaine to my rewarde 

King IVIidas eai'es of asse, 
And have a thousand ill reports 

Still tumbling downe on me, 
Thau this to want unto all sorts 

And view of every eye." 
Wherefore have here, good Reader, now, 

My rurall skillesse skill ; 
I aske no more but this of you, — 

One ynche of your good will : 
Which it to gi'ant as I do crave. 
That's even as much as I would have. 

His Verdict on his Labour. 

Orpheus once did walke abrode 

'Mong fragrant flowers t'encrease his glee. 
To set his harpe in one accorde 



NOTES. 271 

In tune to make his strings agree, 
Whereby was heard such pleasant souude 
That all the woodes thereof rebound: 

And playing thus in pleasant shade, 
Wild beastes and men to him did come ; 

With musicke strayte them stones he made, 
His gift was such, them to transforme. 

He fell a sleepe, and or he wooke, 

In hand a while his harpe I tooke. 

This Scottish Orpheus I meane, 
That Esops tales hath made to gree 

In Rethoricke both trim and cleane. 
That all my wittes bereft hath hee. 

His harpe, alas ! I make to jarre, 

And both his name and mine do marre ; 
But since I made them disagree. 
Leave me the blame, the Laurel he. 

The contents of the volume are as follows :— 
The Argument or Prologue. 

' Though fayned Fables of auncient poetry,' p. 1, 9 stanzas of 
7 lines each. 

The tale of the Grosshead, Chauntcleare the Cock, and 
precious Stone, p. 3. 

' A cock sometime with feathers fresh and gay,' 8 stanzas of 
7 lines. The Morall, p. 5, 6 stanzas, ' This gentle Jasp,' &c. 

The prety tale of the playne countrey Mouse, and 
deyntie towne Mouse, p. 7. 

' Esope mine Author maketh mention,' 29 stanzas; Moralitie, 
p. 14, 'Frendes ye may finde,' &c., 4 stanzas. 

The pleasant tale of the Cock and the Foxe, how wyly 
beguyles himselfe. 

* Though brutall beasts be irrationall,' 27 stanzas ; Moralitie, 
p. 23, ' Now worthie folke,' &c., 4 stanzas. 

The pleasant tale howe this false dissembling Tod 



272 NOTES. 

made his confession to the hypocrite flyer Wolfe Wayt- 
skayth. 

* Lea-ring this wydow glad I you assure,' p. 24, 23 stanzas; 
Moralitie, p. 30, ' This sudden death,' &c., 3 stanzas. 

The Retoricall tale of the sonne and heyre of the fore- 
sayd Foxe called Father Wars, also the Parlement of 
foure footed Beastes, holden by the Lyon, p. 31. 

' This foresayd Foxe, that dide for his misdeeds,' 42 stanzas ; 
Moralitie, p. 42, ' Ryght as the myner,' &e., 7 stanzas. 

The wofull tale of the playntif Dogge, agaynst the 
poore Sheepe, before Justice Wolfe, p. 44. 

'Esope a tale puts in memory,' 16 stanzas; Moralitie, p. 49, 
This selly sheepe,' &c., 9 stanzas. 

The exemplative tale of the Lion and the Mouse ; with 
the Author's Prologue before, p. 51. 

The prologue, p. 51,' In mids of June that sweete season,' &c., 
contains 12 stanzas. The Tale, p. 54, < A lion at his pray 
was overrunne,' 24 stanzas; Moralitie, p. 60, *As I sup- 
pose,' &c., 7 stanzas. 

The notable tale of the preaching of the Swallow, p. 
62. 

•The hie prudence and working marvellous,' 38 stanzas; 
Moralitie, p. 72, 'Lo I worthy folke,' 9 stanzas. 

The mery tale of the Wolf that woldshaue had the 
Neckhering, through the wyles of the Foxe, that beguiled 
the Carrier, p. 77. 

' Whylom there wound in a wUdemes,' 36 stanzas ; Moralitie, 
p. 84, ' This tale is mingled,' &c., 4 stanzas. 

The excellent tale of the wyly Laurence Foxe that 
beguylde the covetous crafty Wolfe, with the shadow of 

the Moon, p. 86. 

*In elder dayes as Esope can declare,' 28 stanzas; Moralitie, 
* The Wolf I liken to a wicked man,' 4 stanzas. 

The mery tale of the Wolfe and the Weather, p. 94. 

« Whylom there was, as Esope can report,' 19 stanzas ; Mor- 
alitie, p. 99, 'Esope the poet, first father of this Fable,' 4 
stanzas. 



NOTES. 273 

The wofuU tale of the cruell Wolfe and the innocent 
Lambe, p. 101. 

* A cruell "Wolfe, right ravenous and fell,' 13 stanzas ; Mor. 
alitie, p. 104, ' The poore people this Lambe may signifie,' 
&c., 10 stanzas. 

The tale of the wofull ende of the Paddocke and the 
Mouse : shewing the mischiefe of desemblers, p. 107. 

' Upon a time (as Esope coulde report),' 19 stanzas; Moralitie, 
p. 1 12, ' My brother if thou,' &c., 9 stanzas. 

The last stanza of this Moralitie may be quoted : — 

Adew, my friend ; and if that any aske 
Of these Fables, so shortly I conclude, 

Say thou I left the rest unto the learneds taske 
To make example and some similitude. 
Now Christ for us that died on the rood, 

Of soule and life, as thou art Saviour, 

Grant us to passe into a blessed houre. 

Finished in the Vale of Aylesburie^ the thirtenth 
of August Anno Domini 1574. 

The volume concludes with the Translator's Epilogue, 
3 stanzas of 7 lines, — " Shewing (as Smith says in the 
Fable) that in a deformed creature God may and wil set 
forth his glorie. 

Then love this worke, and reade it at your will ; 
I but eclipse his Tales of so gi'eat skill." 

It may be added that Richard Smith was a bookseller 
in London, keeping a shop at the west door of St Paul's. 
He had an edition of " The Poesies of George Gascoigne, 
Esq.," printed for him in 1575, and other books until the 
year 1595— (Herbert's Ames, pp. 978, 1304). 

1 The Vale of Aylesbury is a rich tract of land near the town of 
Aylesbury, in the county of Buckingham, 

S 



274 xoTES. 



4. Andrew Hart's Edition, 1621. 

" The Morall Fables of Esope the Phrygian. Com- 
pyled into eloquent and oraamentall Meeter, by Robert 
Henrisoun, Schoolemaster of Dnnfermeling. Dulcius^ 
&c. Newlie revised and corrected. Edinburgh, printed 
by Andi'o Hart, 1621."— 8vo, black letter, sign. A to F 
in eights, pp. 96. The above imprint is supplied on the 
authority of a notice in Bagford's MS. Collections. — 
(Sloane MSS., No. 885, p. 49). 

" The Morall Fables of Eobert Henryson. Reprinted 
from the edition of Andrew Hart. Edinburgh, m.dccc. 
XXXII."— 4to, pp. XII, 96, and two other leaves. " Pre- 
sented to the Maitland Club by Duncan Stewart." The 
Preface is anonymous, but it was furnished by Dr Living, 
and corresponds with his article Henryson in the Ency- 
clopaedia Britannica, seventh edition, 1836 ; and with 
chap. X. of his posthumous work entitled " The History 
of Scotish Poetry, by David Irving, LL.D. Edited by 
John Aitken Caiiyle, M.D. ; with a Memoir and Glos- 
sary." Edinb. 1861, 8vo. 

In these several copies the same an-angement of the 
Fables is adopted. For the sake of uniformity of ortho- 
graphy I preferred to follow the text of the printed edi- 
tion at Edinburgh, 1570, the earliest which has been 
discovered. 

I may here add an extract from the original table of 
contents of Asloan's Manuscript, which gives us the titles 
of one portion of the volume now lost. The loss of 
some of these articles is much to be regretted,'but a few 
by Dunbar and other poets, including the Fables of 
Henryson, are fortunately elsewhere preserved. I re- 
gret especially that his poem, " Doune on fut by Forth," 
and also " By a Palace as I couth pass," are not known : — 



NOTES. 



215 



Item, 



the Testament of Cresseid, . . xxiiij. 
the Disputacioun betuix the Nych- 

tingale, Mavis [and] Merle, . xxv. 
[the Buke of the] Goldm Terge, . xx\j. 
Maister Robert Hekdersounis 

Donne on fut by Forth, . . . xxvij, 
[the Sawis] of the Angell deid quhyte 

Dragoun young man and of the 

Sawlis in Hell, xxviij. 

the Buke of Cm*tasy and Nortur, xxix. 
the Document of Sir Gilbert Hay, xxx. 
the Eegiment of Kingis with the 

Buke of Phisnoray, .... xxxj. 
a Ballat of the Incarnacioun, . . xxxij. 
a Ballat of Steidfastness, . . . xxxlij. 
a Ballat of Recompence, . . . xxxiiij. 
a Ballat of our Lady of Pete, . . xxx v. 
a Ballat of Disputacioun betuix the 

Body and Saull, xxxvi. 

a Ballat of the Devillis Inquest, . xxxvij. 
a Ballat of our Lady, .... xxxviij. 
the Buke of Colkelby, .... xxxix. 
the Buke of the Otter and the Ele, xl. 
the Fly ting betuix Kennyde and 

Dunbar, xli. 

THE Fablis of Esope and first of 



the Paddok and the Mouss, 
the Preching of the Swallow, 
the Lyoun and the Mouss, . 
Of Chanticler and the Fox, 
Of the Tod and the Wolf, . 
the Parliament of Bestis, 
By a Palace as I couth pass, 
A Ballat of Treuth, • . . 



xlij. 

xliij. 

xliiij, 

xlv. 

xlvi. 

xlvij. 

xlviij. 

xlix. 



276 NOTES. 



THE PKOLOGUE.-Page 101. 

la MSS. Mak. and Bann. — This Prologue serves as 
introductory to the fable of the Cock and the Jasp. The 
similar Prologue at page 155 might have seemed more ap- 
propriate as a general introduction, had any new arrange- 
ment of the Fables been made ; but as the existing copies 
exhibit one uniform order, it was not desii-able to make 
any change in this respect. But these two Prologues 
may suggest that Henryson had derived his Fables from 
two different collections. 

The variations of the Harleian MS. 1571, and the 
printed copies of 1570 and 1621, consist chiefly in 
changes of orthography ; and where any of the Fables 
occur in other MSS., it was not thought necessary to 
point out differences which appear to be clerical errors. 

Line 28. Dulcius arrident seria pictajocis.'\ This is the 
second of twelve lines of "Prefatio" to the series of 
Fables in Latin verse republished in the collection of 
Ancient Fables by Neveletus as, " Anonymi Veteris 
Fabulae -3isopicae, Latino carmine redditae lx." (Mytho- 
logia ^sopica, in qua ^sopi Fabula, Gr. and Lat. &c. 
cura et studio Is. Neveleti: Francofurti, 1610, 12mo. 
This volume reappeared with a new title, as " Fabulae 
Variorum Authorum : " Francof. 1660). But these 
metrical Fables had been published in numerous editions, 
so early as the year 1478, chiefly in small 4to, under the 
title of "Esopus Moralizatus," with or without woodcuts. 
The most interesting edition is one mentioned by Tyr- 
whitt, and printed at London by Wynkyn de Worde, 
1503. It is now in the British Museum (1067, c. 2), and 
marked as "Bequeathed by Thomas Tyrwhitt, Esq., 
1786." Dibdin, who had not seen the book, speaks of 
it as imperfect. It seems to be quite complete ; sign. A 
to F in sixes, not paged. The title is, Fabule Esopi 



NOTES. 277 

CUM coMMENTO, over a woodcut representing a school- 
master in a large chair, with a birch-rod in his left 
hand, and three scholars underneath, also seated. It 
has no woodcuts to the fables, like the foreign editions. 
It contains three books of twenty, twenty-one, and 
twenty fables respectively, with a prose ^commentary to 
each. The first fable, as in Henryson, is " De Gallo et 
Jaspide." The colophon is, " Explicit liber fabularum 
Esopi una cum commento Impressus London, per Win- 
andum de Worde in vico nuncupato the Flete Strete 
commorantem in signo solis. Anno M. ccccciii." I have 
a later edition, containing 67 fables, entitled " Esopus 
constructus moralizatus et hystoriatus," printed at 
Venice, 1517, 4to, with rude woodcuts. M. Robert, in 
his Fables Inedites, p. xciij., attributes this version to 
Mag. Galford or Ganffredus, on the authority of a MS. 
of the fourteenth century, which has 

Incipit liber ^sopi edito a Magistro Ganffredo. 

Line 29. Of this Author.'] It is not perhaps possible to 
ascertain whether Henryson followed any particular col- 
lation, if perhaps we except the one described in the 
previous note. 

I may add, that an important branch of such Fables 
existing in most European languages consists in those 
that relate to the adventures of Reynard the Fox. In 
particular, the old French collections, " Le Roman du 
Renart, public d'apres les Manuscrits de la Bibliotheque 
du Roi des xiij® xiv^ et xv^ Si^cles ; par M. D. M^on :" 
Paris, 1826. 4 vols. 8vo. " Le Roman du Renart, Sup- 
plement : Variantes et Corrections, public, etc. par P. 
Chabaille :" Paris, 1835, 8vo. 

Of the English copies of Reynard, the earliest edition 
professes to have been translated from the Dutch by 
William Caxton, in the year 1481, as " Thystorye of 
Reynard the Foxe." In the republication of this rare 



278 NOTES. 

volume for the Percy Society in 1844, the editor, W. J. 
Thorns, Esq., has added notes, and an introductory 
sketch of the literary history of the Romance, containing 
much learned and curious information on the subject. 

Line 34. Ofane Lord.'\ If we are to understand this 
literally, we cannot but regret Hemyson's words, " the 
name it neidis nocht record." Had the Lord's name 
been given, it might possibly have afforded a chance to 
ascertain the exact period of the composition of these 
Fables. 

Line 44. That brutall Beastis spak and understude.'\ 
Cowper, in his "Pairing Time anticipated — a Fable," 



I shall not ask Jean Jacques Rousseau 
If Bu'ds confabulate or no ; 
'Tis clear, that they were always able 
To hold discom'se — at least in fable. 

But in this saving clause Cowper was anticipated by 

Phaedrus : — 

Calumniari si quis autem voluerit, 

Quod Arbores loquantm*, non tantum Feras, 

Fictis jocari nos meminerit fabulis. 

V.R. from MS. Mak :— Line 6, To repreif the of thi 
mysleuing^ — in MS. B. the vyce of mysdoing ; line 14, 
Quha cowth, — in MS. B. culd it rycht aply; line 16, Kyr- 
nal sweit and delectabill; lines 22 and 25, Ay is; line 24, 
So dots the mynd ; line 29, Off this poete^ — in MS. B. 
poyett^ and in next line, / me deffer ; line 43, In this 
Fabill; line 51, Leiffis ay in carnall; line 52, Can nocht 
derenze; line 55, In the mynd is ; line 56, He a brutal 
best is; line 58, In gay meteyr and in facund purpurat.^ 
— in MS. B., In gay metir, facoimd and purpurat. 



NOTES. 270 



THE COCK AND THE JASP.— Page 104. 

Jasp is here used by Henrysou for a precious stoue. 
lu La Fontaine's Fable it is " Le Coq et la Perle ;" and 
in the old French Ysopet it is called " Du Coc et dc 
TEsmeraude." 

V.R. from MS. Mak. : — Line 1, Fethreme; line 7, 
Was cassyn out; line 9, As madynis (MS. B.) ; line 26, 
Be haldyne deyr ; line 29, Scraip heir; line 35, May me 
as now for thyne awall dispice (MS. B.) ; line 39, For 
luise men sayis^ fhat lidiand werk is lyclit (ib.) ; line 47, 
Out of this feir^ out of this as (ib.) ; line 61, Sum meit; 
Ime 64, Oft differeyit (MS. B.) of hew; line 69, To haif; 
line 80, Makand at science hot a hnak and shorne ; line 
82, Walwmlys, wamilis; line 88, Erdly gud; line 96, 
Of this mater I do but waistis wynd ; line 98, Quha list. 



THE UPLANDIS MOUS AND THE BURGES 

MOUS.— Page 108. 

In MS. AsLOAN andBANN. — This fable has always been 
a favourite subject. The Emperor Marcus Antoninus, in 
his "Meditations," to illustrate the axiom of the safety 
and tranquility of a retired life, and a low station, with 
the dangers of ambition, says (B. xi. 22), — " Remem- 
ber the fable of the Country Mouse and the City Mouse, 
and the great fright and terror of the latter." Here he 
probably alludes to the fable as it occurs in Horace (Lib. 
ii. Sat, vi.) Sir Thomas Wyatt adopts the story in his 
Satire I. " On the Mean and Sure Estate." This, as his 
editor, the Rev. Dr Nott, says, may have been suggested 
by Horace's story of the Town and Country Mouse, 
which Wyatt relates in a new and lively manner of his 
own ; subjoining to it moral reflections, in a high strain 



280 



NOTES. 



of philoso])hic reasoDiug, upon the beauty and dignity of 
virtue. Yet, he adds, Wyatt might be indebted to 
Henryson, if not for the idea of the story, at least for 
the mode of telling it. 

Line 11. Wes gild-brother^ . . and free burgess.] There 
were special privileges enjoyed by persons admitted bur- 
gesses of a guilder coi'poration, in contrast with unfreemen. 

Line 18. To se quhat lyfe scho had under the wand.] 
"Wand" has various significations: in our old poets 
a sceptre, or badge of authority— the rod of coiTCction, 
a state of subjection, &c. Dr Jamieson quotes lines 
15-18 in this place, and remarks : " This phrase is used 
apparently as synonymous with under the lind — denoting 
a situation in the open fields or woods." 

Line 26. Cry peip anis.] Dr Nott considers that Sir 
Thomas Wyatt in using the expression, Peip quoth the 
other., was indebted to Henryson. 

Line 4. Uponland.] Or Upland. This term is equivalent 
to " land wart," one who lives in the country, or rural 
district, as distinguished from the burgh, or borough — 
the residence of a burgess. It is an old term in use in 
Scotland, occumng in the Laws of the Four Boroughs, in 
the reign of David II. " like bm-ges may punde (arrest 
or distrain) an Uplandis man wythin the merket and 
utouth, within his house and utouth his house," &c. — thus 
rendered in the Latin text : " Quilibet burgensis potest 
namare foris habitantes infra forum suum et extra, infra 
domumsuam et extra." — ( Leges QuatuorBurgorum, III.) 

Lines 120-126.] This stanza is omitted in Asloan's 
MS. It occurs in all the other copies. 

Line 213. The mous hes eie.] In MS. Bann., To the 
rnvuss hewis e.] '* The word hewis is probably the same 
with heaves — raises or lifts up his eye. It may, how- 
ever, imply no more than have^ or has^ so arbitrary was 
spelling with us." — Hailes. 



NOTES. 281 

Lines 220-227.] This stanza is omitted in H. Char- 
teris's edition of the Fables. From this circumstance, 
and the similar omission of three stanzas in the last 
Fable, we must conclude that the copy used by the 
writer of the Harleian MS. 1571, and by Smith in his 
translation 1577, must have been a prior edition not now 
existing. 

Line 228. Sa it be hot a gleid.] " A temporary blaze, 
such as is made with brush-wood, opposed to a constant 
regular fire." — Hailes. Gleid. " Not a temporary blaze, 
as Lord Hailes explains it, but a small fire. ' You will 
find yourself comfortable by the side of your own fire, 
though it be a small one.' The word is still common in 
this sense." — Sibbald. 

V.R. from Asloan's and Bann. MSS : — Line 6, Uther 
mennis schecht; line 8, That levis on thair wacht; line 
13, And licence had to gang; line 17, Langit sar to; 
line 22, Throw many ; line 30, Quhen thir sisleris twa wes 
met; line 36, A simple wane; line 37, Fidl misterlyk; 
line 38, Ane erdfast stane ; line 43, Unto the hutry hyed; 
line 49, ThinTi ye this meit nocht gud ; line 55, Of my 
syre liffand in; line 63, Quhilk usit is hefor with; line 68, 
With richt gud will baith blyth and hartlie cheir ; line 83, 
This riall; line 84, For sic a rurale best; line 88, Disehe 
likingis; line 92, In scowthry ; line 101, Intillane innes 
thair herbery ; line 132, So come the Spensar ; line 143, 
To sers, to seike, to cheir nor yit to chase ; line 148, Flat- 
tingis ; line 150, Wilsome stound; line 159, Huf fast ; 
line 160, Benes and peis; line 175, Between the dosor — 
the dressour ; line 178, And be the cluk richt craftely ; 
line 180, Scho come; line 188, Frayone; line 190, War 
lanys; line 207, Intermellit; line 211, And nocht; line 
219, Is mery hart; line 227, In sikerness; line 230, And 
thou wilt it reid; line 231, / can nocht better se; line 232, 
In quiete. 



282 NOTES. 



SCHIR CHANTECLEIR AND THE FOXE.— 

Page 118. 

Chaucer in the Nonnes Preestes Tale (Canterbury 
Tales) has the same Fable as this of Henrjson's, being a 
tale of " A Cok highte Chaunteclere." The cock is fore- 
warned in a dream of the danger that awaited him, and 
this leads to a long prolix or misplaced digression on 
swevens or dreams, in a dialogue between Chaunteclere 
and the fau'e damoselle Pertelote.— -(Tyrwhitt, vol. iii., 
p. 192). 

Line 77. Baith wink and craw.'] In the " Roman du 
Renart," vol. i., p. 49, we have this tale, " Si coume 
Renart prist Chantecler le Coc," containing many simi- 
lar incidents; but it forms no part of my design to 
attempt to trace such resemblances. 

Lors chanta Chantecler un vers, 

L'une oil ot clos, et I'autre overs. — V. 1589. 

It is not unlikely that Chaucer was the first to naturalise 
Chaunteclere as the name of a cock. 

Line 115. Sand Johne to borrow.'] Borrow or borch — 
a pledge or secmity ; and the meaning of this common 
saying seems to be, as suggested by Tyrwhitt, My faith 
for a pledge, St John for a security. It occurs in this 
sense in Gower, Chaucer, our own Blind Minstrel, and 
in Lyndesay, as well as in other early poetical wiiters. — 
See Jamieson's Dictionary, v. Borch ; also Halliweirs 
Glossary, v. Borow. 

Line 119. Wes never wedow so gay.] This may likely 
have been the title or words of a popular song. 

Line 181. / hecht he my hand.] This should read, / 
liecht you be my hand. 

Line 196.] On the margin of MS. Bann. is marked 
Pryd. 



NOTES. 283 

Lines 197 to 203.] Tliis stiinza is omitted iu MS. 
Harl. 

Line 201.] On the margin of MS. Bann. is written, 
Flattery. 

V.R. from MS. Bann. : — Line 2, Lakking discretioun ; 
line 3, Kyndis ; line 11, My cunning it exeedis; line 12, 
Is to; line 13, This hinder ; line 16, With spinning ; line 
21, Crawand befoir ; line 32, Werie of; line 37, Smy- 
land; line 43, Serve you^ Sir^ I wer to blame; line 47, 
At his ending; line 60, My hert warmis ; line 61, You for 
to serve^ I wald; line 73, Quod Lowrence than., now Sir, 
sa mot; line 78, Thus inflate with the ivind offals vaine 
gloir; line 81, Walkit up ; line 85, To the schaw ; line 
102, Horlage bell ; line 113, Than Sprowtok spak; line 
120, Held us in grete aw ; line 133, Claw your beke; line 
136, Sa loueous ; line 140, Adulteraris that list thame; 
line 150, How Birkye Burrie Bell Balsye Broun; line 
151, Curtess Cutt and Clyid; line 159, Saw the ratchis; 
line 161, Wer liftit; line 174, Tlie Cok brade unto a 
bughe ; line 180, iV«, murthar theif and rivare stand on 
reir; line 197, Fy ! pompouss pryd ; line 201, This wik- 
kit wind of adulatioun. 

THE TOD'S CONFESSION TO FRIAR WOLF.— 

Page 127. 

V.R. in MS. Bann. : — Line 3, Fatal aventure; line 5, 
With miching; line 8, Thetes; line 13, Kest him; line 
14, Cumn; line 19, And sum ivas ; line 21, Lerit ; 
line 32, This erd heir doun ; line 35, Send me first to lair ; 
line 40, Deed is reward of sin and; line 42, Of all syn- 
nis; line 54, Wondrous sle; line 59, My gaistly fadir ; 
line 68, Schawis full weill; line 71, A! silly Lowrence; 
lines 75-76. The words. Heir upon the bent, I you beseik, 
and^ are omitted in MS. Harl. ; line 84, Couth kneill 



284 NOTES. 

(MS. Harl.) ; line 93, In tyme aiming ; line 97, Ischame to 
beg; line 103, A! Schir ; line 104, And seikly and walk; 
line 123, Saw thir walterand wawis mode ; line 132, Wes 
he fain; line 147, Upoun this wame (MS. Harl.); line 
148, Of the gayte; line 165, Alyke conclusion; line 166, 
Now hes gude professioun (MS. Harl.) ; line 175, Have 
hantit thame to ; line 181, Do wilfull pennance here^ and 
ye sail wend; line 182, To joy: — With this colophon. 
Explicit exemplum veritatis etfalsitatis. 



THE PARLIAIVIENT OF BEISTIS.— Page 134. 

Line 32. Ay runnis the Fox^ ^c] This occurs as a pro- 
verbial expression in one of Dunbar's Poems, (vol. i. p. 
136) ; and also in Knox's History of the Reformation, 
(Works, vol. i. p. 116). 

Line 40, &c. He takkis hot small tent.'] It may be a 
mistaken conjecture, but I cannot help thinking that 
Heniy Charteris, or whoever was the editor of Henry- 
son's Fables between 1560 and 1570, may have used 
some liberty in altering these lines. — See also lines 344- 
346. In MS. Bann., in reference to the services of the 
dead in the Eomish Church, the lines at least read — 

he takis small entent 

To Sing, or say, for thy salvatioun : 
Fra thou be dede, done is thy devotioun. 
Line 60. The nobill Lyoun.] More properly, in terms 
of a royal proclamation. We Nobill Lyoun, &c.— In 
the old French metrical romance of Eeynart, or Rey- 
nard the Fox, we find that noble., nobles., noblon., was 
used as the proper name of the lion. Thus, in the tale 
" C'est de Reynart et d'Yseugi-in et dou Lyon," etc. 
(vol. i., p. 181) we have,— 

" Mon seignor Noble et Yseugrin." — V. 5587. 



NOTES. 285 

" Entre seignor Noble et Renart 
Et Ysengi-in son bon ami." — V. 5738-9. 
Another chapter in " Renart le Nouvel" has this title : 
" Ainsi que Renart vint devaut le Roi Noblon," etc. 
(vol. iv., p. 326). 

In like manner, in chapter XIII. of Caxton's transla- 
tion of Reynart, we have — " Reynart loke as he had not 
ben aferd, .... and wente in the mydel of the place 
stondyng to fore Noble the kynge." Also in chapter 
XV. : — "Nobel the kynge, and the quene, and alle that 
were in the com't, folowed after for to see the ende of 
Reynart." 

Line 71. The morrow come, and Phebus with his bemis.'] 
The corresponding lines in some of the old copies of 
Reynart may be quoted as a specimen. In " Reynart 
le Nouvel" (vol. iv., p. 127) " Li Parlement et li Con- 
cille le Roi Noblon," the opening lines of the tale are as 
follows : — 

En May c'arbre et pr^ sunt flori 

Et vert de fuelles, que joli 

Fait es selves et es fories 

Que cil oisiel cantent adies, 

C'amoureus cuers fait nouviaus sons, 

Mesire Nobles li Lyons 

Tint Cort par grant sollempnite 

Au jom- de sa nativite 

Ce fu au jour de Rovisons. 
Rovisons — that is, the days of rogation, the fifth Sunday 
and three following days after Easter. 

In chapter I. of Caxton's translation we have, — " It 
was aboute the tyme of Penthecoste or Why tsontyde, that 
the wodes comynly be lusty and gladsom, and the trees 
clad with levys and blossome, and the ground with 
herbes and flowris swete smellyng, and also the fowles 
and byrdes syngen melodyously in theyr armonye, that 



286 NOTES. 

the lyon the noble kynge of all beestis wolde in the holy- 
dayes of thys feest hold an open Court at Stade, whyche 
he dyde to knowe over all in his land, and commanded 
by strayte commyssyons and maundements that every 
beaste shuld come thyder." 

It is unnecessary to quote this passage from the well 
known Latin poem of Hartmann Schopper. In " The 
Crafty Courtier; or the Fable of Reinard the Fox, 
newly done, &c. from the Antient Latin Iambics of 
Hartm. Schopperus :" London, 1706, 8vo, it is rendered : 

Now, in her glory did the Spring appear, 
And the glad Hind beheld the coming year ; 
Leaves cloath the trees, and flowers the fields 

adorn, 
And chearful birds salute the rosie mom : 
When the fierce Lion from the Throne ordains 
Peace, to the various Nations of the plains ; 
His Will the Heralds and a Feast proclaim — 
Invite alike the savage and the tame. 

Line 117. The Feitho that Jies furrit mony fent ; The 
Mertrik, ^c] The mertrik is the marten, and the fithowe 
the polecat. By the Act of the Scottish Parliament, 
James I., 1429, cap. 133, " Na man sail wek furringis 
of mertrickis, but allanerly knychtis and lordis of twa 
hundreth merkis at the leist of yearly rent." In a pre- 
vious Act, 1424, cap. 24, " It is ordanit, that na man 
have mertrik skinnis fiirth of the realme ; and gif he 
dois, that he pay to the King lis. for the custume of 
ilk skin, and for x fowmartis skinnis csiUed Jithowis, xd." 
Shakespeare introduces the name fitchow in three dififer- 
ent passages. 

Lines 176 to 189.] These two stanzas are omitted in 
Bannatyne's Manuscript. 

Line 238. Felix^ quern faciunt aliena pericula cautiim.'\ 



NOTES. 287 

" He is happy, whom other mens perills maketh ware " 
(Proverbes or Adagies, out of Erasmus, by Richard Ta- 
verner: Lond. 1539, 12mo). Erasmus, in his Adagia, 
thus quotes the line, as a common saying, to ilhistrate 
Prov. xxxix, " Optimum aliena insaniafrui. Vulgo jacta- 
tus versus est in eandem sententiam : 'Felix, quem faciunt 
aliena pericula cautum.'" He adds, " Cicero in Epistola 
quadam, ' Bellum (esse scripsit) ex aliorum erratis suam 
vitam in melius instituere.' Plautus item, ' Feliciter sapit, 
qui alieno periculo sapit,'" &c. (Adag. Chil. ii. Cent. ni. ; 
Erasmi Opera, tom. ii. p. 496). There is a Scottish 
proverb to the same effect, "Better learn from your 
neighbour's skathe than your own."— (Kelly's Proverbs, 
p. 64, and in Adagia, &c., Edinb. 1723, 12mo, p. 17). 

Lines 344-346, 0! Mediatour, Sfc. were probably 
altered from the following as they occur in MS. Bann. : — 

O Mary ! myld modere of mercy meke. 

Site down before thy Fader Celestiall. 

For us synnaris his celsitude beseke 

Us to defend, &c. 
In the manuscript the first line has been deleted, and 
thus replaced, — 

O Lord Eternall ! Medeatour for us maist meke. 

V.R. fi'om MS. Bann. : — Line 3, That to his airschip 
mycht of law succede ; line 4, Quhilk in lemanrye ; line 6, 
Was clepit; line 11, Get^ cummys wrang ; line 14, So wes 
his grantscher and his fader als; line 15, His fude; line 
27, In stouth and re fas he had done before; line 29, For 
faderlye pitie; line 43, And herd a bustous bugill brymly 
blawe ; (lines 46 and 47 are transposed in MS. Harl.) ; 
line 52, Put furth his voce full loud; line 54, In the 
feildis nere by; line 65, Sic a cry; line 56, Govand 
agast; line 60, We Noble; line 71, The morowing ; line 
81, Wele dicht; line 86, That gais on fut all bestis on the 



288 NOTES. 

erd; liue 88, Thay comperd ; line 89, ^s Tod Laurence 
me lerd; line 103, The jolye Jonct; line 107, The Wod- 
wyss^ Wild cat^ and the wild Wolfyne; line 115, The Glo- 
hert; line 116, With the Wasyll; line 117, The Fythow 
, . . mony ane; line 119, The Lurdane lane; line 124, 
In haist haykit unto the hillis hyclit ; line 128, And blenkit 
allabowt; line 147, On the greit; line 148, I can thame; 
line 149, The Wolf syde; line 150, Nocht upoun the 
Lamb; line 153, Bad anone the Court do fens; line 
169, To his mind can mene; line 171, Drew far doun; 
line 172, With the ane E ; line 174, Suld thoill arreist; 
line 175, Bukhud; line 199, Cum heir Lowrye ; line 200, 
A! Lord, mercy e; line 201, In the hanch ; line 204, 
Braiding he said ; line 207, At meat; line 210, Lat be, 
Laurence, your carping and your knax; line 213, Lau- 
rence tak you; line 214, A respit here; line 217, He is 
principall; line 225, Wes brynt; line 232, Wilt thou 
nocht luke ; line 235, And in ane unhurt shjn ; line 239, 
With broken scalp, and bludye chekis rede ; line 252, Thay 
drank, but tary ; line 270, As mannis hurt, ane other 
happy makis ; line 271, Thus gatis in knakis; line 272, 
In mirines (MS. H.)-, line 277, Devorit hes (ib.) ; line 
285, He fell; line 286, He ruschit ; line 292, Oieiss a 
siss about; line 294, Thift, and party tressoun als ; line 
295, Thai band; line 297, Furth with him unto; line 301, 
Ane end; line 306, Thir Doctouris; line 307, Apertly be 
our leving can applye; line 308, And preve their preching 
be a poesye; line 311, To get mare grace ; line 312, And 
gapis for ; line 318, As monkis and other men of reli- 
gioune; line 319, That preisis God to pleiss ; line 321, In 
wofull povertie fra pomp and allpryd ; line 337, Ternp- 
tatioun; line 339, That daylie sagis (seigis) men ofreli- 
gioun; line 340, Cryand to thame. Cum to the warld 
agane; line 341, But when thai see; line 342, Deidwith 
ithand panes ; line 344, O ! Mary, myld, modere of mercy 



NOTES. 289 

meke (this line deleted, and reads) 0! Lord Eternally 
Medeatour for us maist meke ; line 345, Site doun before 
thy Fader Celestiall; line 346, For us synnaris his celsi- 
tude beseke. 

THE DOG, THE SCHEIP, AND THE WOLF.— 

Page 148. 

Lord Hailes, in his " Ancient Scottish Poems," pub- 
lished from the MS. of George Bannatyne, 1568 :" 
Edinb. 1770, 12mo, has included this Fable, and that of 
" The Mous and the Paddock," with the following intro- 
ductory note : — 

" Out of many Fables by Henrysoun I have selected 
two, as being more particularly characteristical of the 
state of Scotland during the sixteenth [15th] century. 
The Fables of Henrysoun are rather tedious. Indeed pro- 
lixity seems to be the general fault of modern fabulists : 
from this charge I cannot except even La Fontaine 
himself. I have printed some of the morals without the 
corresponding Fables. They are not so tedious, and they 
contain several curious particulars as to the state of 
Scotland. 

*' The fable of ' The Dog, the Wolf, and the Scheip ' 
contains the form of process before the ecclesiastical 
court. It is a singular performance, will be entertaining 
to lawyers, and may, perhaps, suggest some observations 
not to be found in books." — Hailes. 

Line 10. / per me, Wolf pairtles of frawd or gyleJ] 
"The summons or writ is issued in the name of the 
Wolf, before whom the cause between the Dog and the 
Sheep was to be tried. Pairtles is neutri f averts P — 
Hailes. 

Line 11. TJndir the panis, ^x.] " Under ecclesiastical 
pains, in case of contumacy ; first, of suspension from 

T 



't 



290 NOTES. 

divine offices, and then of absolute extrusion from the 
church itself." — Hailes. 

Line 17. On the lettir bureJ] " Charges to pay or to 
perform, issued in the name of the Sovereign, are still 
termed the King's letters.'''' — Hailes. 

Line 23. To his office weill affeird.'] "Well instructed in 
what concerned the duty of his office. As effeiris, as 
becomes, is a constant expression in our law-style." — 
Hailes. 

Line 29. Quhen Esperus to schaw his face began.'] 
" The Wolf held his court while the sun was down. ' On 
every Wednesday morning next after Michaelmas day, 
at cocKs crowing^ there is by ancient custom a court 
held by the Lord of the honour of Ealeigh, which is 
vulgarly called the lawless com*t, because held at an 
unlawful or lawless hour ' " (Blount, Customs of Man- 
nours, p. 147). — Hailes. 

Lines 57-59.] " The Wolf having been declined, he 
appointed the parties to chuse arbiters, who might judge 
of the declinator. Had the Wolf judged of the declina- 
tor, an appeal might have lain to a superior court ; but 
no appeal lay from the judgment of the arbiters. They 
were judges chosen by the parties themselves, and par- 
ties cannot appeal from their own deed." — Hailes. 

Line 72. Degestis new and aid.'] "Alluding to the 
ridiculous division of the Pandects into digestum vetus, 
infortiatum, et novum^ made by Bulgarus in the twelfth 
centmy." — Hailes. 

Line 83. On clerkis I doit gife this sentence be kill.] 
" I think the meaning is, I leave the learned to deter- 
mine whether the arbiters justly repelled the declinator. 
It has been suggested that 'clerkis doit'' may signify 
the insti'ument-money paid to the clerk of com-t ; and 
then the sense will be, as the judgment was formal. 



NOTES, 291 

and iustruments taken, the slieep could not bring the 
award under review." — Hailes. 

Line 89. Thairto a borch (or borrow) IfandJ] " I put 
in bail to prosecute for recovery of a pension or pittance 
of bread which I had purchased from the sheep." — 
Hailes. 

Line 94. Laurence the actis and \tlie'\ proces wi'aiL] 
"In line 29 it w^as said that the 'Fox wes clerk and 
notar.' The Scots still call a fox a Tod-Laury. I do not 
know the origin of this appellation." — Hailes. 

Dr Ja:viieson says, — " The name TodLowrie is given 
to the fox in Scotland in the same maimer as in Eng- 
land he is called Reynard the Fox, and perhaps for a 
similar reason. The latter designation is immediately 
from Fr., — renard, a fox." He suggests that Lowrie 
may be a common diminution used for the proper name, 
Lawrence. 

Line 112. St/ne to the field couth pas.'] Allan Ramsay, 
in the " Evergi-een," altered these lines to — 

" And he start up anone. 



And thankit them ; syn to the bent is gane^ 

Dr Jamieson quotes these words instead of the correct 
reading from MS. Bann., as in the text ; and says,— 
" To gae to the bent: to provide for one's safety, to flee 
from danger by leaving the haunts of men." 

Line 120. This Wolf I likin unto a Schereff stout. ^ "It 
is remarkable that the whole satire of the fable is aimed 
at the ecclesiastical judge, whereas the application is to 
the civil. Henrysoun probably stood more in awe of 
the court spiritual than of the temporal." — Hailes. 

Line 132. To scraip out Johne^ and wryt in Will or 
IFa^,— in MS. Bann. Of Wait.] " To efface the name of 
John, and in its place insert that of William or Walter. 
Of from the Dutch, may imply or. It would seem, 



292 NOTES. 

however, that ' ofwaW is a better reading, which implies 
intentionallj/^ on purpose.'''' — Hailes. The reading of 
the text, or Wat, a proper name, is much to be pre- 
ferred. 

Line 133. And so a hud at baith the parteis skat 
(tak).'] " And thus levy a rewaixi from each of the par- 
ties — ^from John for effacing his name, and from the 
adversary of William for inserting his." — Hailes. 

V.R. from MS. Bann. :— Line 10, / per me, Wolf, 
pairtles of frawd or gyle ; line 14, Answer till ; line 17, On 
the lettir; line 21, What burry Dog wald say him till ; line 
29, Esperus; line 37, Couth propone ; line 46, Hes ay bene 
odius; line 61, Suld byde; line 69, Many Decretalis ; 
line 74, Sum a doctrine and sum another hald; line 79, 
The Arbitrouris, summar and [de] plane ; line 88, To the 
a sowme I payit befoirhand; line 89, Thairto a borch; 
line 93, Thejugeis ; line 99, To put in; line 106, Moir 
persecutioun ; line 109, Hisfeiss; line 111, As he foir- 
jugeit was; line 128, Hes ane portioun (MS. Harl.); 
line 132, Of wait; line 133, The parteis skat; line 141, 
Now of winter it is maid; line 157, Cursit syn ; line 159, 
Jugeis; line 160, Thai ar ; line 161, Thay thoill the 
rycht; line 166 is omitted in MS. Harl. ; line 171, Derth^ 
war, and pestilence. 

THE PROLOGUE.— Page 155. 

Line 28. The fairest man.'] The description of ^sop 
that follows is very much opposed to the ordinary 
representation of this perhaps imaginary personage. 
In the words of Caxton's version of the Fables, and 
as represented in the woodcut, ^sop was " deformed 
and evil shapen, for he had a great head, large 
visage, long jaws, sharp eyes, a short neck, curb- 
backed, great belly, gi'eat legs, and large feet, — and yet 



NOTES. 293 

that which was worse, he was dumb and could not 
speak ; but notwithstanding all this, he had a gi-eat wit, 
and was gi'eatlj ingenious — subtle in cavillections and 
joyous in words."' It is unnecessary to point out the 
contradictions in this account of one who was '• dumb 
and could not speak ;•' but this is avoided in the edition 
1647, as along with " pleasant in words," there is added, 
afier he came to las speech. 

V.R. from MS. Bann. : — Line 2, Hishemis; Une 6, On 
syd; line 11, Gress ; line 13, Odour, and hirdis armony ; 
liue 25, Syjie maid a cross; line 32, In hekle; line 34, His 
heid; line 36, Ane row; liue 51, My natall; liue 53, And 
science studyit ; line bb^Isope; line 57, 0! Maister Ysop ; 
line 62, That samyn; line 63, Merry; line 64, Isope; 
line 73, Tlie hart inclynand (MS. Harl.) ; line 74, Swa 
rowstit; line 80, Sum brutale. 

THE LYOUN AND THE MOUS.— Page 159. 

Line 193. And metigat mercy with crewUy.'] " This 
expression is not very grammatical. It means just the 
contrary of what it expresses." — Hatlf.s. 

Line 210. Figour heirof aftymis has bene sene.'] "He 
probably alludes to the revenge taken on Robert m. by 
Dunbar, and on James I. by Graham."— Hailes. It 
more likely alludes to events of a later period. 

y.R. from MS. Bann. : — Line 9, Attour him tuke thair 
trais; line 10, The tampis ; line 16, Hid thame heir and 
thair; line 17, Allais ! for notv and evir mair ; line 27, 
Ofallbeistis; Mhq^I, Off alky nfude; line 49, -For <fre/<f; 
line 56, Gallows hangit; line 73, Of his compeir ; line 
74, Ofarmes; line 100, Accordit till ressoun; line 106, 
Yeidtohunt; line 111, How thay micht him tak; Une 
116, Canattis; line 120, Voluand about ; line 123, ^Yes 
lie knet; line 132, Heir mane Ibyd; 144, Sum parte thy 



294 NOTES. 

(jentilnes; line 145, On ivith that scho gais; line 148, 
Come on in hy; line 151, Wrekand his hurt; line 152, 
Of supple; line 153, With another ; line 158, Yeidabone; 
line 159, Of the mastis; line 161, S^jme to the bent; line 
162, Dangeir; line 164, Poweir ; 178, As fals plesandis ; 
line 195, Quit a commoun. 



THE PREICHING OF THE SWALLOW.— 

Page 168. 

Line 172.] It is scarcely worth noticing, that by a 
typographical mistake, the numbering of lines 120, 130, 
140, and on to 240, are misplaced one line too high. 

V.R. from MS. Bann. : — Line 4, Manis argument ; 
line 11, A thing Celestiall; line 43, Luik ice; line 44, 
Luikwe; line 77, In till; line 123, Hemp^ lo se! and 
linget seid; line 137, Provyde hefoir^ and see; line 146, 
Fey est; line 148, Railsum; line 155, We furth passit; 
line 167, Swallow swift . . . pryme ; line 171, Cast up ; 
line 175, Seid had tane it out; line 200, And on togidder; 
line 205, Ripplit the bowis; line 208, Sy?ie scuthit it weill, 
and heclit it in the flett; line 217, Hyit on in; line 231, 
Into this caffe; line 236, / reid you; line 253, It was 
grete hertis sair ; line 258, Sum off the heid^ off sum he 
brak the craig ; line 261, Often syis; line 273, Cordand 
to; line 276, Fra the Angellis; line 278, Nycht newir 
loerye to ga; line 290, Stark and rude; line 299, Of 
vaill; 230, Na man wait. 

THE WOLF, THE FOXE, AND THE 
CADGEAR.— Page 181. 

Line 131. Out of the Creillis, S^c.'] In the " Roman dn 
Renart," the incident of the fox abstracting the herring 
from the carrier's baskets or creels, occurs without any 



NOTES. 295 

reference to the adventures of the Wolf,— "Si coume 

Renart manja le poisson aus Charretiers." — (Vol. i., p. 

29). 
It may be noticed, that in all the French and English 

editions of Reynard, the Wolf is uniformly called Ysen- 

grin, Isegrim, Iscgrym, or Isgrim. 

Line 100. And straucht him doun^ ^c] In the " Crafty 

Courtier" (see rote, p. 286) we have this incident thus 

versified — (p. ii.) The Badger, addi'essing Isgrim the 

Wolf, says, — 

Well thou rcmemhrest when a lab'ring Swain 
Drove thro' the village with his laden wain ; 
With food 'twas fraught, and Renai'd lay in wait 
To feast thee with his fish, the precious freight : 
His limbs he stififeu'd and he droop'd his head. 
The Hind observ'd it, and believed him dead : 
Aloft he threw him on his cart, and he 
Flung out the booty that he got to thee. 

Line 133. The Cadgear sang^ Hunts up^ up^ upon hie.'\ 
There were evidently various adaptations of this popu- 
lar song or air in Scotland as well as England. It is 
mentioned in " The Complaynt of Scotland, 1548," and 
in Alexander Scot's poem On May, (about 1560.) It 
was converted into one of the " Gude and Godly Bal- 
lats" at the time of the Reformation. Mi* Chappell, 
in his valuable collection of " Ancient English Ballads," 
&c., has fully illustrated the old English song of Hunts 
up; and he remarks that the name was a general term 
for hunting songs. In Romeo and Juliet, Act iii., scene 
V. is the line — 

Hunting thee hence with Hunfs up to the day. 

And the Shakespeare Commentators have not overlooked 
a passage in Puttenham's Ai"te of English Poesie, 1589, 
where he speaks of one Gray, and "what good estima- 



296 NOTES. 

tion did he grow with King Henry (the Eighth), and 
afterwards with the Duke of Somerset, Protector, for 
making certain merry ballads, whereof one chiefly was. 
The Hunte is up^ the Hunte is upP But Henryson's 
words, in this place, shew that the- Song was popular in 
Scotland at a much earlier date. 

V.R. in MS. Harl. : — Line 29, And throw breiris; line 
32, Thayfeill; line 51, / can nocht fische for weitting of 
my feit; line US, Heir lyis, quod he, the Devill; line 
197, Be my schrift; line 198, He will me beir ; line 201, 
Surelie to; line 219, On the lane; line 231, And swall; 
line 262, Wynning all the craft. 

THE FOXE THAT BEGYLIT THE WOLF.— 

Page 193. 

The story of the Fox and the Wolf is preserved in an 
English metrical poem in the Digby Manuscript, and 
was communicated by Sir F. Madden to Wright and 
Halliwell's " Reliquige Antiquae," from a manuscript of 
the reign of Edward the First ; and reprinted by Mr 
Wright in his selection of Latin stories for the Percy 
Society in 1842. 

Line 11. Thay couth the fur forfair.'\ That is, not 
follow straight in the fiiiTow. Li the " Priests of Peblis," 
line 412, we have '■' God's pleuch may never hald the fui\" 

Line 123. Ye sail ane Cabok haif] Cabok, caboik, 
cabbach, kebbach — a cheese ; properly one of a larger 
size. Dr Jamieson, v. Kebback, quotes from Allan 



Let's part it, else lang or the moon 
Be chang'd, the Kebuck wiU be doon. 
The Fox describes it, at line 125, as summer cheese, 
more than a stone weight ; and afterwards, as white as 
a neip, and a fit present for a king. 



NOTES. 297 

Line 189. As ane comes up, Sj-c.} In Caxton's trans- 
lation of Reynard the Foxe this incident of the two buc- 
kets at the well is briefly narrated by " Erswynde the 
Wulfis wyf," in proof of the Fox's falsnes and treason, — 
" I said, Tell me how I shall come to thee." Thenne 
saidest thou, Aunte, sprynge in to that boket that 
hangeth there, and ye shal come anon to me. I dyde 
so, and T wente downward, and ye cam upward. Tho 
was I alle angry thou saidest, Thus fareth the world, 
that one goth up and another goth down," &c. (Percy 
Society reprint, p. 135). 

V.R. in MS. Harl. :— Line 22, The oxin waxit; line 
37, Eirrand in; line 48, Haifye writ or witnes; line 94, 
Sum tymes ane hen haldis ane man in ane how; line 106, 
Concordit thus ; line 122, Swa ye mak ; line 159 Senye- 
ouris; line 168, Present to ony Lord; line 182, And 
mak sum ; line 188, Thus fairis of; line 202, Actand or 
atand; line 205, The Feynd faltis findis, as Clerkis 
reidis; line 213, In sic trustie. 



THE WOLF AND THE WEDDER.-Page 203. 

Line 154. Be war in welth^for Hall-henMs ar rycht 
slidder.'] This phrase occurs also in the " Priests of 
Peblis," line 614, " For wit thou weill, Hall binks ar ay 
slidder." Kelly explains this proverbial saying : — " Hall 
binks are sliddery: Great men's favour is uncertain. 
Lat. Favor aulae incertus." — (P. 133). 

V.R. in MS. Harl.:— Line 22, Wretchitlie; line 28, 
Bodie and heid, baith taill, crag, and feit; line 39, Skin 
he flew; line 77, The kenenes of the dog; line 83, Ran 
still quhilk ane strand stud behind him; line 84, Couth 
bind him; line 91, Quhill that ane busk; line 99, Sic ane 
catche; liuQ 129, Be thy prettie; Mne 1^4:, Bot counterfait. 



298 NOTES. 



THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.— Page 210. 

This fable, derived from ^sop, is the first in Phse- 
drus, with the proverbial motto, " Facile est opprimere 
innocentem." 

Line 122. The pure husband richt nocht bot croip and 
calf, upon ane clout of land.'] In MS. Bann. it reads, bot 
cote and crufe; and Lord Hailes explains "crufe" as 
" any poor habitation — a shade, an hog's stye;" from 
corf a shade, a temporary building. I rather imagine 
that the word refers to a produce of the land, not to a 
residence. Calf here may perhaps mean grass. In Dr 
Jamieson's Dictionary we find the word caff-lea as 
"infield ground, one year under grass (Angus). It 
seems to have received this designation from the calves 
being tm-ned out on it." 

V.R. in MS. Bann. : — Line 3, Out of a well; line 6, 
Bot of this Wolf the Lame no thing ; line 13, Presomyng 
thair; line 14, Carpand come (lampand in MS. Harl.) ; 
line 24, With stinkand lippis ; line 28^ Till ressoun ; line 
35, Your drink is nevir ; line 42, With boistis; line 43, 
Hewexiime; \mQ 4:^., And thrawart ; Ime 67, I latt; line 
60, Unto the nynt degre; line 67, Of law in audiens; line 
70, And contra ; line 75, The way, this is the justest wyss 
(in MS. Harl., the lav), this is the instant gyis) ; line 76, Ye 
suld proceidj thairfoir, a summons ; line 78, Ha! quoth; 
line 82, Be Goddis woundis; line 86, Wes he Jieidit; 
line 88, Till he ives fou ; line ^^, And pure lauboreiis; 
line 101, Poleit termes; line 102, Leitand; lines 106 
to 112. This stanza comes in between lines 126 and 
127; line 116, Thoill in peax ane pure man be; line 
122, Hes nocht; line 123, Bot cote and crufe; line 130, 
For prayer, pryce, and the gersum tone (in MS. Harl., 
gressum pait, and cane; line 135, To drug and draw; 



NOTES. 299 

line 138, Lo ! as he standis ; line 146, Cryis vengeance to 
the hevin so he; line 152, This is a sentens suth, I yow 
assure; line 155, That is the; line 156, / mene (in MS. 
Harl., and fell) extorteneiris ; line 158, Be manifest; line 
161, To banneiss of this land. 



THE PADDOK AND THE MOUS.— Page 217. 

Lines 23-29.] These lines, and also lines 165, 171, 
and 176-181 in the Moralitas, are omitted in the edition 
of the Fables by Heniy Charteris, 1570. This circum- 
stance, as already noticed, supra^ p. 281, renders it cer- 
tain that some earlier edition had been followed by the 
writer of the Harleian Manuscript dated 1571, and by 
R. Smith in his English version printed in 1577. Hart's 
edition, 1621, also contains these omitted lines. 

Line 138. Quhome uith you foUowis thee.'] " It should 
probably be fallowis — i.e. associates. The noun fellow 
is still used in the sense oi companion.'''' — Hailes. 

Line 190, &c.] In MS. Bann. we find the reading, 
perhaps the original, as follows : — 

My friend, thaiifoii', mak th<^ a Strang CasteU 

Of gud deidi^, for deid will the assay 

Thow wait not quhen, at evin, morne, nor midday. 

V.R. in MS. Bann. : — Line 1, Ysop can; line 4, Nocht 
sowme ; line 13, Full rawk; line 14, Deme (dame) 
Mouss; line 16, Of heir., of peiss; line 18, Stoppit heir 
he this (in MS Harl., stoppit with this); line 22, Heir 
is no mareneir ; line 28, And nocht to iveitt the tampis ; 
line 29, / haif mervell than ; line 32, Drowin to wed 
(wade) thairin ; line 34, This ivatter wan ; line 35, Thus 
hegan ; line 38, Suppois the hruk ; line 39, / swyme ; line 
43, Hir frousit face ; line 44, Hir runclit heik; line 48, 



300 NOTES. 

Fysnomy; line 49, Of fraud and als invy; line 54, A 
frawart will ; line 58, Fowll faMn ; line 59, Blak of hew; 
line 64, Unlusty (unlufly?); line 72, With silkin; line 
74, Menys ; line 83, /s that thi counsale ? quod the silly 
Mous ; line 88, Quha mychi amend my skaith ; line 97, 
Of this f als crabit (}n MS. Harl. carpand) Taid; line 
101, Bot tofieit and swyme; line 102, To slay ; line 104, 
Dowkitdoun; line 108, Cuth^ saifly that I; line 111, 
Scho bowtit up^ andfoirsit; line 116, Quhile dowh, quMle 
up agane; line 120, A Gled; line 122, Or owther ; line 
135, Till this Fable ; line 138, Thow followis ; line 140, 
Of meit and ding and delffe quhill thow may die ; line 
141, Na be machit; line 144, Thairfoir to gife credence; 
line 145, Oursone to all; line 166, Now wardit; line 169, 
Brattis to imbrase; line 171, Now wappit to ; line 172, 
Thus Met hard; line 174, May nocht twin ; line 178, And 
haldis; line 180, Mony wayis ; line 181, Body ay waverand; 
line 182, Standis distinyt, and thair ; line 183, The spreit 
. . . preisses doun ; line 184, The naiur of the saule wald 
our be borne; line 185, Out of this warld unto the hevinly 
trone; line 187, Endis this battell; line 191, Of gud 
deidis; line 192, At evin ; line 196, To mak a sample or 
similitud. 



\ 



\ 



[ 301 ] 



ADDITIONAL NOTES. 



Page 25, line 50. At luvis law I think a quhjle to kit.'] 
Dr Jamieson explains to leit, to delai/^ and remarks, — 
" According to Lord Hailes, probably leet give one's suf- 
fi-age or vote. But it rather signifies, that, as a young 
man, he would pass some part of his time in love," — v. 
Leit. On the following line, In court to cramp clenely 
in my clathing^ Jamieson says, — " Lord Hailes renders 
this, ' to climb, to ramp — grimper^ Fr.' But cramp is 
probably here used in relation to its proper sense, as 
signifying to contract. Thus the Poet may represent 
Youth as speaking of being cramped in his clothing at 
com't ; perhaps in derision of some stiff and strait dress 
worn at the time," — v. Ckamp. This explanation is by 
no means satisfactory. 

Page 31, line 29. Quhyt as quhailis bane.'] That is, 
resembling ivory. This phrase, as white as whales bone, 
is a common simile, used both by English and Scottish 
poets. It occurs, for instance, in a poem of Henry 
Howard, Earl of Sm-rey, — 

I might perceive a wolf, as white as whales-bone, 

A fairer beast, a fresher hue, beheld I never none ; 

Save that her looks were fierce, &c. — (p. 26). 
Dr Nott, in his note on this passage, says, — " That is, 
* as white as ivory,' for before that ivory from the ele- 
phant's tooth was generally known in Europe, the ivory 
in common use was that made from the teeth of the sea- 
horse, which were then an article of commerce obtained 



302 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 

from Russia, and the north. . . . The name of whale's- 
bone ' was continued for ivory long after the extension 
of commerce had rendered elephant's teeth common, and 
superseded the use of the teeth of the morse, or sea- 
horse. Keal ivory, however, iu the reign of Henry the 
Eighth, was still scarce." Dr Nott quotes various 
instances of the continued use of the phrase (Surrey and 
Wyatt, vol. i., p. 305). 

Page 36, line 8. Sen want of wyse men^ ^c] In the 
earliest collection of " Scottish Proverbs, gathered to- 
gether by David Fergusson, sumtyme minister at Dun- 
fermline" (who died in 1599), but first published at 
Edinburgh, 1641, -Ito, we have these words, — " For fault 
of wyse men, fooles sits on binks ; " and Kelly explains 
this proverb as " Spoken when we see unworthy persons 
in authority" (p. 105). 

Page 46, lines 90, 91. It is ane mirk mirrour^ ^-c] A 
dark looking-glass, &c. This occurs as a proverbial 
saying in Fergusson's Scottish Proverbs, 1641, but the 
ludicrous and coarse phi-ase in the text is changed to 
"A mirk mirrour is a man's mind." Kelly gives the 
words from Fergusson, transposed, " A man's mind is a 
mirk mirrour." 

Page 54, line 147. And treis dansit with thair leves 
grene.'] Shakespeare avails himself of the Fable of Or- 
pheus, to illustrate the power and alluring force of such 
harmony on inanimate things. It is in the fonn of a 
" song," and there is so much melody in the words, that 
I cannot refrain from quoting the passage, from his King 
Henry VHI., Act iii. scene i., which opens with Queen 
Katherine and some of her maidens at work, before her 
interview with Cardinal Wolsey : — 

Q. Kath. — Take thy lute, wench : my soul grows sad 
with troubles. Sing, and disperse them, if thou canst : 
leave working. 



ADDITIONAL NOTES. 303 

SONG. 

Orpheus with his lute made trees, 
And the mountaine-tops, that freeze, 

Bow themselves, when he did sing : 
To his Musicke plants, and flowers, 
Ever sprimg ; as sunne, and showers. 

There had been a lasting spring. 

Every thing that heard him play, 
Even the billowes of the sea. 

Hung their heads, and then lay by. 
In sweet Musicke is such art ; 
EdUing care, and grief of heart, 
Fall asleepe, or hearing, dye. 
Page 64, line 421. Yit Maister Trivet^ ^c] Since the 
note at p. 256 was printed, I have had an opportunity 
of examining the Latin Commentary on Boethius by 
Trivetus. I refer especially to Dr Burney's MS. (British 
Museum), No. 131, Ssec. xiv. That Henryson was in- 
debted for some of his moral applications to the old 
English Commentator may readily be granted, without 
the trouble of furnishing any extracts from his long, ela- 
borate, and pedantic work ; which on this particular sec- 
tion (Lib. III. Metrum xii.) occupies from pp. 96 to 99 
in a small hand, filled with contractions. 

Page 81, line 164. His gyis^ and line 260, Hir gyse.'\ 
In both instances Sibbald, apparently without any autho- 
rity, reads his gite and ha- gite^ which he explains, attire, 
night-gown. 

Page 82, line 209. Four yoTikit steidis.'] In the next 
stanza the names of the four horses of the Sun were no 
doubt copied from Ovid (Metaph. Lib. ii., v. 153-155) 
in his account of the fate of Phaethon in his rash attempt 
to guide the chariot of Phoebus (or Apollo). 
Interea volucres Pyroeis, Eous, et ^thon, 



304 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 

Solis equi, quartusque Phlegon, hinnitibus auras 
Flammiferis implent, pedibusque repagula pulsant. 

Thus rendered by George Sandys in 1626 : — 

Meanwhile, the Sunnes swift Horses, hot Pyrous, 
Strong ^thon, fiery Phlegon, bright Eous, 
Neighing aloud, inflame the ayre with heat, 
And with their thundering hooves the baniers beat. 

Page 84, line 261. And on Mr breistane churle paintit.'] 
In Godfrey's Chaucer, 1532, and in later editions, ane 
chorle. Sibbald alters this to ane cairle. The words 
"churl" and "cai'l" are nearly synonymous, but have 
various significations. — See Jamieson's Diet., v. Carl, 
Caii'le, &c. He remarks, — " We find the childish idea, 
that the man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day was 
sentenced to be imprisoned in the moon, as old as the 
age of Henrysone." Speaking of the moon, he says 
(quoting the lines from Sibbald's text), — 

Her gite was gi*ay and full of spottis blak, 
And on her breist ane cairle plaintit ful even, 

Bering a bushe of thornis on his bak, 

Quhich for his theft micht clime no ner the 
heaven. 

Page 115, line 184. Thy guse is gude^ thy gansell sour 
as gall.} In Fergusson's Scottish Proverbs, 1641, "A 
good goose indeed, but she hes an ill gansell." Kelly 
also gives it, and explains " gansell," gable. In Henry- 
son " gansell " seems rather to mean sauce. 

Page 124, line 174. With that the Cok.] This mode 
by which the Cock effected his escape from the Fox 
when pursued by the hounds forms the subject of -S^sop's 
Fable of the Fox and the Cock. 

Page 127, line 54. Freir Wolf Waytskaith.'] This 
name Waytescathe, applied to the Wolf also, is met 



( 



ADDITIONAL NOTES. 305 

with in Caxton's version of Reynard the Foxe, (Percy 
Society reprint, p. 95). To wayt is to hunt, and skaith 
may signify prey. 

Page 138, etc. In the enumeration of the various ani- 
mals summoned to attend the Parliament, called by the 
Lion as king, most of the names will be found in the 
Glossary ; but there are a few which I cannot make out, 
such as " Sparth," " Bowranbane," and " Lerroun." In 
the older books upon hunting, Strutt says, — " The beasts 
of the chase in some are more multifarious, and divided 
into two classes : the first, called beasts of sweet flight, are 
the buck, the doe, the bear, the rein-deer, the elk, and 
the spytard. In the second class, are placed the fulimart, 
the fitch at or fitch, the cat, the gi*ey, the fox, the wesel, 
the martin, the squirrel, the white rat, the otter, the 
stoat, and the pole-cat ; and these are said to be beasts 
of stinking flight." — (Strutt's Sports and Pastimes, p. 16, 
Lond. 1810, 4to) ; see also " The Book of Hawking, 
Hunting," etc., known as the "Book of St Albans," 
1486, and republished with a learned introduction, Lond. 
1810, small folio. 

Page 138, line 119. The Bowranbane^ and eik the Ler- 
rounj] In the V.R. we have " The Lurdanelane," which 
is not more intelligible. LeiToun, in some copies Lerion, 
may perhaps be a mistake in the old copies for Leproun 
(Fr., laperon)^ a young rabbit ; or as likely, for Levroun 
(Fr., levron)^ a little greyhound. 

Page 142, line 223. Schir^ it is heir^ under my hufej] 
Henryson may have borrowed this mode of inflicting 
punishment on the Wolf from -^sop's fable of the Mule, 
the Wolf, and the Fox. 

Page 168. The preiching of the Swallow.'] The fol- 
lowing specimen may be given, from Wright's Percy 
Society volume, of the Rhythmical Fables which were 
popular during the Middle Ages, and to which Henry- 
u 



306 ADDITIONAL NOTES. 

son may have been indebted. The same Fable occnrs 
in the Greek ^sop, in the Latin, and in French versions 
besides that of La Fontaine. — See Robert's collection, 
" Fables luedites," vol. i., pp. 40-46. From the old 
French I'sopet he has published two, entitled, "De 
I'Arondelle et des autres Oisianx," and " Comment 
I'Aronde requist aux Oiseaux qu'ils mangassent chanvre 
que un vilain semoit." 

DE AVIBUS. 

Nuper erat avium turma congregata, 
Quae viderunt semina Una seminata ; 
Parvipendunt talia cohors insensata, 
La lino proprium dampnum censere parata. 

Tunc hirundo calKda ccepit has monere, 
Ut vellent insidias lini praecavere ; 
*' Eraatnr," inquiens, " linum, nam nocere 
Potest quippe multum et nobis dampna movere." 

Tunc avis hirundinem quseque deridebat, 
Nee ejus consilium ratum discernebat. 
Ilia doli prasscia dampnum prsecavebat, 
Et statira tecta fugiens humana petebat. 

Instat piis precibus homines rogare, 
Ut suis in domibus posset habitare, 
Dicens quod insidias fugit declinare ; 
Illi concedunt quo vellet nidificare. 

MORALITAS. 

Haec notat historia, quod turba stultorum 
Contempnunt scientiam jurisperitorum ; 
Qui, cum capti fuerint pedica dolorum, 
Lugent consilia jam contempsisse bonorum. 



I 



THE GLOSSARY. 



4 



[ 309 ] 



THE GLOSSARY. 



A, p. lei, Ah! 

Abasitlie, p. 151, humbly. 

Aboif, p. 4, above. 

Abone, p. 59, above. 

Aby, p. 28, buy^ purchase. 

Actand, p. 201, enduring. 

Agane, p. 200, aganis, p. 
184, against. 

Ago, pp. 21, 83, 154, gone. 

Aii'schip, p. 134, inherit- 
ance. 

Air, pp. 28, 193, early. 

Airis, p. 218, oars. 

Aith, p. 184, oath. 

Aittis, p. 217, oats. 

Aid, p. 10, old. 

Alls, p. 5, ails. 

Alkin, p. 160, all kind of. 

Allquhair, p. 159, every 
where^ here and there. 

Almous, p. 89, alms. 

Als, p. 160, also. 

Alyte, p. 84, a little. 

Anceane, p. 10, aged. 

And, p. 4, if. 

Aneuch, pp. 79, 88, 105, 
132, enough. 

Applidis, p. 34, satisfied. 

Areir, p. 87, aside. 

Ai'gow, p. 102, argue^ dis- 
pute. 

Ark, p. 108, a large chest 
for holding corn or meal. 



Arreist, p. 103, hinder, ar- 
rest. 

As, p. 31, dust, ashes. 

As, ase, pp. 62, 161, ask. 

Askis, from Ask, p. 28, eft, 
newt, a kind of lizard. 

Ass, p. 104, ashes. 

Assyis, p. 213, assize. 

Atouir, p. 81, across. 

Attour, pp. 5, 16, 59, over, 
above; attour the lave, 
above the rest. 

Auncient, p. 49, ancient, 
old. 

Auster, p. 80, austere. 

Aw, p. 149, owed. 

Awin, pp. 12, 117, own. 



B. 

Bacis, p. 35, embraces. 

Bad, p. 145, bade, com- 
manded, directed. 

Baid, p. 92, abode ; pp. 
153, 200, remained. 

Bailis, p. 24, a fame: here 
applied to fames of love, 
or irregtdar desires. 

Baill, pp. 79, 122, sorrow. 

Bak, bakkis, p. 168, a bat, 
bats. 



310 



GLOSSARY. 



Balk or bawk, p. 109, a 
ridge ofunploughed land. 

Ballandis, p. 123, balance. 

Ban, p. 46, curse. 

Bandonit, p. 203, aban- 
doned. 

Bandoun, p. 13, subjection^ 
thraldom. 

Bane, p. 31, bone; banis, 
pp. 135, 207, bones. 

Banestikill, p. 183, a fish : 
the three-spined stickle- 
back. 

Bankouris, p. 90, coverings 
of tapestry. 

Barret, p. 33, strife^ hos- 
tility. 

Bastoun, p. 190, a staffs 
baton. 

Battis, p. 190., strokes. 

Bawdronis, p. 114, a com- 
mon designation for a cat. 

Befoir, p. 140, before^ in 
presence. 

Beikit, p. 76, warned. 

Beildit, p. 78, built. 

Beir, p. 121, noise. 

Beiris, p. 28, bier., coffin. 

Bek, pp. 129, 181, to bow, 
to do obeisance. 

Bellie-blind, p. 199, the 
game of blind-man's buff. 

Beljif, beljve, pp. 65, 145, 
immediately^ presently, 
quickly. 

Ben, p. 115, within: the 

inner apartment. 
Bene, p. 156, abundant, 

plentiful, pleasant. 
Benis, beinis, p. 114, beans. 
Bent, p. 129, an open field 

covered with grass. 
Berly (burly), p. 25, 
strong, stout. 



Berne, p. 24, a man, in a 

general sense. 
Bernis, p. 196, persons. 
Besyd, p. 4, astray, aside. 
Beteiche, p. 96, deliver up, 

bequeath. 
Betill, p. 175, a beetle, a 

heavy mallet. 
Bett, p. 175, beat. 
Bench, p. 124, bough of 

a tree; bevvis, p. 175, 

boughs. 
Beure, p. 23, bore, borne. 
Bevar, p. 25, an aged per- 
son: one who is worn 

with age. 
Bever, p. 54, a beaver. 
Bield, p. 206, shelter. 
Big, p. 214, large; bene 

and big, well provided 

and commodious. 
Bigly, p. 10, commodious, 

seemly. 
Binge, p. 129, to cringe. 
Binkis, bynkis, pp. 36, 209, 

benches ; hall - binkis, 

seats in a raised position. 
Bir, p. 175, a cry, whizzing 

sound. 
Bird, birdis, p. 25, see note, 

p. 244, a lady, damsels. 
Birst, pp. 53, 96, burst. 
Bla, p. 124, discoloured. 
Blait, p. 213, bleat. 
Blakiunit, p. 140, black- 
ened. 
Bleir, p. 184, to obscure 

the vviion. 
Blenkis, pp. 52, 63, looks; 

blenkit, p. 206, casting 

a glance. 
Blent, p. 63, looked. 
Blomis, p. 201, blooms, 

flourishes. 



GLOSSARY. 



311 



Bollis, p. 175, bowes. 

Bolnying, p. 66^ swelling. 

Bolt, p. 132, shaft^ arrow. 

BoiTOw, p. 161, pledge^ 
surety. 

BoiTowit, p. 14, redeemed. 

Bot, p. 213, but. 

Bonn, boune, pp. 16, 63, 
96, 121, 176, ready. 

Bour, p. 10, bower .^ a cham- 
ber. 

Bourd, p. '2^^ jest. 

Bourding, p. 2^1., jesting. 

Bouranbane, p. 138. — See 
note, p. 305. 

Bowsumest, p. 35, loveliest. 

Braid, pp. 119, 124, sprung 
away., started. 

Brast, p. 75, pierced., shone. 

Brayd, p. 6, hastened. 

Braid fui'th, p. 196, stretch- 
ed out. 

Breid, p, 151, breads loaves. 

Breird, p. 178, shoot forth : 
applied to grain. 

Brent, p. 81, smooth., high. 

Briclit, the, p. 12, a lady., 
a young woman., the fair. 

Brig, pp. 58, 218, a bridge. 

Broddit, p. 193, pricked. 

Brok, broke, pp, 54, 138, 
a badger. 

Browderit, p. 90, embroi- 
dered. 

Bruk, p. 210, bruke, p. 
211, a stream., brook. 

Briikkilnes, p. 78, change- 
ableness. 

Brym, p. 218, floods river. 

Bud, pp. 153, 194, 214, 
bribe., gift. 

Bufe, p. 33, above. 

Biiist, p. 136, out of his 
tvallet. 



Buit, p. 92, help. 

Buk-hude, p. 140, a game., 
probably^ like Hide-and- 
seek. 

Bullar, p. 82, a heap., a 
loud gurgling noise. 

Bur, bare, pp. 10, 148, 
bore^ carried. 

Burelie, bui'ely, pp. 81, 90, 
19, pleasant^ agreeable. 

Burly, p. 24, strong^ stately. 

Bursin, p. 207, burst. 

Busk, pp. 108, 132, 183, a 
bush ; p. 193, brushwood. 

Busk, p. 173, to dress. 

Buskis, p. 55, bushes. 

Buskit, p. 84, arrayed. 

Bus, buss, p. 52, a bush. 

Busteous or busteouss, pp. 
62, 80, 81, ^erce, power- 
ful, boisterous. 

But, p. 89, without. 

But, p. 115, the outer 
apartment ; but and ben, 
a house consisting of an 
outer and inner apart- 
ment. 

Bute, p. 204, help^ advan- 
tage. 

Buttrie, p. 202, scullery., 
pantry. 

By, p. 197, beside. 

Bydand, p. 32, abiding., 
waiting. 



C. 

Cabok, caboik, (kebbuck), 

p. 198, a cheese. 
Cace, p. 134, chance; on 

cais, by chance. 
Cadgear, p. 184, a carrier. 
Caffe, p. 179, chaff. 



312 



GLOSSARY. 



Caip, p. 29, a cope^ cover. 

Calf, caff, p. 176, chaff. 

Calf, p. 214, see Crop. 

Callit, p. 195, summoned. 

Came, p. 120, comb. 

Campis (at p. 159 printed 
Lampls), p. 218, long 
hair^ whiskers. 

Can (ken), p. 107, to know. 

Cant, p. 114, playful^ live- 
ly^ merry. 

Capill, pp. 184, 186, a 
horse or mare. 

Carage, p. 50, behaviour. 

Carioun, p. 134, carcase^ 
carion. 

Carle, carll, carlis, pp. 
175, 188,acAMrZ, a rustic, 
usually advanced in life. 

Carpand, p. 144, talking. 

Carpin, p. 17, talking. 

Cart, p. 82, chariot. 

Catyf, p. 23, knave., caitiff. 

Cauld, p. 153, cold. 

Cautelous, pp. 118, 175, 
cunning^ wily. 

Chaip, p. 29, escape. 

Chair, p. 82, chariot. 

Chantecleir, p. 118, name 
given to a cock. 

Chymeris, p. 156, a short 
light gown. 

Clapper, pp, 89, 92, a kind 
of hand-bell^ ivhich lepers 
rattled, for the two-fold 
purpose of seeking alms^ 
and to warn persons from 
coming in contact, for 
fear of infection. 

Claucht, p. 53, catched, 
caught. 

Clepit, p. 53, called. 

Clinscheand, p. 140, limp- 
ing. 



Clippis, p. 70, eclipse. 

Clout, p. 214, a small por- 
tion. 

Club, pp. 23, 173, a staff. 

Cluke, p. 205, a claw, 
clutches. 

Coft, p. 14, bought. 

Coif, coiffis, pp. 153, 171, 
a cave, caves. 

Columbine, p. 171, the 
name of a plant, from 
the flowers of different 
colours having a dove- 
like form or figure. 

Compone, p. 152, make a 
composition. 

Con, p. 138, a squirrel. 

Cop, p. 89, a cup or dish 
to receive alms. 

Copia temporis, p. 170, the 
Goddess of Plenty. 

Corbie, p. 148, a raven. 

Coronat, p. 161, crowned. 

Corpis, p. 189, body. 

Couth, p. 156, affable. 

Cowd, cowth, pp. 5, 6, 10, 
could. 

Crab, crabbit, pp. 207, 208, 
anger, to make angry. 

Crabbing, p. 67, making 
angry. 

Crag, pp. 179, 204, the 
neck. 

Crag-bane, p. 208, the col- 
lar-bone. 

Craikand, p. 173, the cry 
or noise made by a fowl. 

Crak-rape, p. 128, hang' 
mail's rope. 

Cramp, p. 25, to frequent. 

Cramping, p. 25, same 
sense as Cramp: there 
is an English phrase. 
' In the Crampis,' well 



GLOSSARY. 



313 



set out in clothes — (Hal- 

liwell). 
Crampland, p. Sl^curled.^ 
Crap, p. 114, creep. 
Craw, crawand, pp. 120, 

121, to crow^ crowing. 
Creill, creillis, p. 184, a 

wicker basket^ panniers 

used by carriers. 
Crop and calf, p. 214, calf 

here means irifield grass. 
Crous, pp. 104, 123, 139, 

bold, confident. 
Crownair, p. 152, coroner. 
Cry, p. 144, proclamation. 
Cunnand, p. 11, an engage- 
ment^ a contract. 
Cunning, p. 138, a rabbit. 

D. 

Daill, p. 5, dale. 

Dais, p. Ill, the high place 
in the hall. 

Dart, p. 199, probably for 
derf, active, vigorous. 

Daw, da, p. 138, a doe. 

De, pp. 12, 189, die. 

Dede, p. 147, death. 

Deid, pp. 30, 55, death, 

Deir, pp. 4, 8, harm., hurt., 
injury. 

Delf, p. 222, to delve. 

Deluge, p. 42, to free., dis- 
lodge. 

Demyng, p. 8, censuring. 

Denyie, p. 158, deign. 

Deray, p. 139, disorder. 

Derenyeit, p. 151, accused. 

Dern, p. 3, secret. 

Descense, p. 49, descent. 

Devyne, p. 145, divinity. 

Dicht, pp. 12, 13, ready, 
prepared. 



Dill, p. 3, share. 

Dirk, pp. 169, 192, dark, 
hidden. 

Doiff, p. 176, dull. 

Dolly, p. 60, doleful. 

Doolie, dully, pp. 70, 75, 
dull., melancholy. 

Dorp, p. 118, a village. 

Dosinnit, p. 190, stupid, 
confused. 

Dottit, p. 43, stupid, doited. 

Doun, p. 223, down. 

Dowis, p. 193, a term of 
endearment. 

Dowkit, p. 132, dipped in 
the water. 

DrafF-troich, p. 107, trough 
for grain or refuse. 

Dreuch, p. 132, drew. 

Drowrie, p. 96, gift, love- 
token. 

Druggis, p. 223, pulls, 
drags. 

Dub, dubbis, pp. 171, 206, 
a small pool of rain 
water. 

Dude, pp. 130, 131, do it, 
perform it. 

Dule, p. 3, sorrow. 

Dulfully, p. 12, sorrowfully. 

Dulkit, p. 59, dived. 

Dully, duly, pp. 32, 70, 
doleful, melancholy. 

Dungin doun, p. 11, over- 
thrown, cast down. 

Dungering, p. 11, the dun- 
geon of a castle. 

Duschit, p. 145, dashed, to 
beat down. 

Dyte, p. 75, writing; ane 
cairfuU dyte, a sorrowful 
story. 

Dytis, p. 152, to indict. 



314 



GLOSSARY. 



E. 

E, ee, p. 173, the eye. 

Effeird, p. 160, belonged to. 

Effeiris, p. 130, belongs^ 
befits. 

Eik, p. 6, increase. 

Eik, p. 138, also. 

Eild, p. 25, old age. 

Ene, eine, pp. 140, 156, 
eyes. 

Eird, erd, pp. 31, 34, 57, 
116, 178, earth. 

Eirit, p. 194, waxed. 

Eith, p. 145, easily. 

EkjDg, p. 49, adding^ in- 
creasing. 

Eldaris, p. 49, ancestors. 

Elikonee, p. 60, Helicon. 

Enchessonii,'p. 207, caused^ 
occasioned. 

Erar, p. 160, rather. 

Erd. — See Eird, earth. 

Erdly, p. 30, earthly. 

Esope, p. 157, JEsop. 

Esperance, p. 9, hope. 



Facnltie, p. 218, skill. 

Fair, p. 112, fare. 

Fairliand, p. 173, wonder- 
ing. 

Fairn, p. 109, fern. 

Fallowis, p. 222, makes thy 
companion or fellow. 

Fall- trap, p. Ill, a mouse- 
trap. 

Falset, p. m, falsehood. 

Fane, pp. 135, 221, glad. 

Fang, pp. 131, 187, 221, 



to catch hold., laid hold 
of booty, prize. 

Farly, p. 51, wondrous. 

Fassoun, p. S, fashion. 

Fauld, pp. 6, 203, open 
field, pasture ground. 

Faw, p. 175, to make the 
ground fallow. 

Fawcht, p. 12, fought. 

Faj, p. IQl, faith. 

Fayest, p. 173, on whom 
the chance may, predes- 
tined. 

Fe, pp. 3, 203, sheep. 

Feddi'ame, p. 1^^, feathers. 

Feid, p. 124, enmity, feud. 

Feil, p. 118, many. 

Feill, p. 187, knowledge. 

Feinyeit, p. 222. feigned. 

Feir, p. 3, complexion. 

Fell-, p. 129, alarm. 

Feiris, p. 161, companions. 

Feisik, p. 45, physic. 

Feitho, p. 138, a pole-cat; 
the fitchat or fitchew, of 
Shakespeare, a stinking 
little beast that robs the 
hen-roost and warren. 

FeU, p. 175, high land only 
fit for pasture. 

Felloun, p. 81, sharp, dan- 
gerous. 

Feltrit, p. 81, fetterit, p. 
168, entangled. 

Fent, p. 138, the opening 
left in the sleeves, or short 
slit in the upper part of 
dress. 

Fenyeit, pp. 64, 157, 185, 
feigned. 

Fer, p. 105, /ar. 

Feriate, p. 150, holiday. 

Ferly,pp.23, 67, wondrous. 

Ferlyis, p. 36, wonders. 



GLOSSARY. 



315 



Fettillie, p. 222, keenly. 

Fey, p. 124, ./ee. 

Feynd, p. 201, the fiend^ 

the devil. 
Fibert, p. 138 (or vetch), 
p. 223. Fitche, a small 
kind of wild pea. 
Firth, p. 175, enclosed 

land. 
Fitchett, see Feitho. 
Flane, p. 132, an arrow. 
Flanis, p. 81, arrows. 
Flasche, p. 81, a sheaf. 
Flatling, flatlyngis, pp. 63, 
113, ld9, Jlat^Jlatly^ lying 
flatly. 
Fleidues, p. 20Q, fright. 
Flemyt, pp. 21, 37, ex- 
pelled, driven away. 
Flet, p. 176, inside of a 

house. 
Flew, p. 204:, fled. 
Flewar, p. 1^4:, flavour. 
Fley, p. 204, to flay. 
Flocht, on, |). 207, terrified, 

fluttered. 
Flok, p. ?>, flock. 
Flyrdom, p. 142, perhaps 
from Fiyre, to make 
sport. 
Flyte, p. 198, to scold. 
Fog, p. 109, moss. 
Foh'speikar, p. 84, advo- 
cate, prolocutor. 
Fold, p. 24, earth, the earth. 
Folich, p. 69, foolish. 
Fome, p. S2,foam. 
Fon, p. U2, folly. 
Forcy, p. 17, powerful. 
Foilore, p. 64, utterly lost. 
Forrow, p. 12, before. 
Forther, p. 132, farther. 
Forthink, p. 130, be per- 
plexed, disturbed. 



Forthy, pp. 126, 155, there- 
fore, for this reason. 

Foryfeild, p. 162, recom- 
pense. 

Foiyet, p. 192,/or^e^ 

FoKvmart, p. 138, a pole- 
cat. 

F^ay, p 19A, fright, state 
I of alarm. 

j'reik, frelkis, pp. 24, 27, 

/ person, fellows. 

'Freit, p. 107, decay. 

Fronsit, p. 218, wrinkled. 

Frosnit, p. ^0, frozen. 

Fur, furris, p. 193,furroiv, 
furrows. 

Fare, pp. 62, 115, 131, 
14:3, fared, went. 

Furrit, pp. 84, 138, lined 
with fur. 

Fyle, p. 210, defile. 

Fyn, 14^^, find. 



G. 

Gadraan, p. 193, the man 

who guided, with a long 

pointed stick, the oxen in 

ploughing. 
Gah", p. 81, part of a lady'' s 

dress, strip of cloth. 
Gah-done, p. 24, guerdon, 

reward. 
Gaist, p. 112, guest. 
Gait, p. 131, goat, goats. 
Gam, p. 144, cheerful. 
Ganecome, p. 77, return, 

coming again. 
Gang, pp. 4, 88, go. 
Ganis, p. 104, avails. 
Gansell, p. 115, sauce. — 

See note, p. 304. 



316 



GLOSSARY. 



Gar, pp. 8, 181, 213, cause^ 
compel. 

Garmond, p. 8, garment. 

Garray, p. 144, prepara- 
tion. 

Garris, pp. 173, 191, 196, 
causes^ compels. 

Garth, p. 21, garden. 

Gate, p. 65, this way^ road. 

Gem, p. \\2, jelly. 

Ger, p. 65, cause. 

Gers, gersis, pp. Ill, 137, 
155, grass. 

Gert, gart, p. 33, caused. 

Ges, p. 9, guess. 

Gest, pp. 78, 89, guest. 

Gib, gib-hunter, p. 114, a 
name given to a male cat 
that has been gelded. 

Gif, pp. 117, 131, line 108, 
if; lines 113, 117, give. 

Gigot-like, p. 78, foolish, 
laughing. 

Gimpis, p. 214, quirks, sub- 
tleties. 

Gird, p. 142, struck. 

Glaikit, p. 40, thoughtless, 
foolish. 

Glar, p. 210, mire, mud. 

Glebard (in V.R., Glo- 
bard), p. 138, a glow- 
worm. 

Gled, pp. 149, 153, 221, a 
kite or hawk. 

Gleid, p. 117, a spark of 
^?e.— (See note, p. 281). 

Glemis, p. 137, shines, 
beams. 

Gloming, p. 168, dusk, twi- 
light. 

GoiMt up, p. 220, cast up 
her head, looked up. 

Graip, p. 149, a vulture, or 
a griffin. 



Graithit, p. 156, arrayed, 
apparalled. 

Grantschir, pp. 55, 56, 
grandfathet\ 

Gravin, p. 90, buried. 

Greissis, p. 90, grass. 

Greit, p. 64, sorrow. 

Greit, p. 114, to weep. 

Gressome, p. 215, sum 
paid by a tenant at the 
commencement of a new 
lease. 

Grewe, pp. 49, 50, Greece, 
the Greek language. 

Grisely, p. 53, of a dark- 
ish grey colour; p. 60, 
frightful. 

Grottis, p. 112, oats with 
the husks taken off. 

Grouf, p. 88, ground, lying 
flat, with the face down- 
wards. 

Grow, growis, p. 172, to 
grow, grows. 

Growis, p. 174, shudders. 

Growtnoul, p. 269, large 
headed, a blockhead. 

Grunching, p. 123, mur- 
muring. 

Grundin, p. 81, whetted, 
sharpened. 

Grj^e, p. 60, a vulture, 

Gule, p. 64, lamentation. 

Guse, p. 115, a goose. 

Gust, p. 113, to taste, give 
a relish. 

Gyane, p. 10, a giant. 

Gyis, p. 81, a mode, 
fashion. 

H. 

Habergeoun, p. 81, a short 
coat of mail. 



GLOSSARY. 



317 



Haboundand, p. 51, 

abounding. 
Hace, p. 87, hoarse. 
Haill, p. 200, to draw. 
Hailland, p. 200, drawing. 
Hair, p. 138, a hare. 
Hair, p. 7, hoary. 
Hairt-sair, p. 177, grief, 

heart-sore. 
Halt, hate, pp. 82, 60, hot. 
Hakkit, p. 187, cut down, 

hacked. 
Halkis, p. 197, hawJcs. 
Hals, pp. 9, 128, 213, the 

neck, throat. 
Hankit, p. IQ'^^ fastened. 
Harlit, p. 163, dragged. 
Hattrell, p. 142, the crown 

of the head. 
Having, p. 9, carriage, 

behaviour. 
Haw, pp. 84, 87, dis- 

coloured, a pale colour 

between blue and green. 
He, p. 8, high. 
Hecht, pp. 195, 197, pro- 
mise. 
Heich, p. 17, to exalt. 
Heiddismen, p. 41, the 

chief or principal men in 

a district. 
Heiffis, p. 196, raises. 
Heill, pp. 7, 143, health. 
Heillit, p. 176, covered. 
Heir, p. 196, here. 
Heis, p. 17, raises, exalts, 

lifts up. 
Heithing, hething, p. 197, 

jesting in sport. 
Hekkill, pp. 120, 124, the 

feathers in the neck of a 

cock. 
Heklit, p. 83, fastened by 

means of a hook. 



Hekillit, pp. 156, 175, to 

dress flax. 
Hellis-cruk, p. 11, a crook 

for suspending vessels 

over afire. 
Hend, p. 14, courteous, 

gentle. 
Herbery, pp. 67, 68, lodg- 
ing, a place of entertain- 
ment. 
Herk, p. 14, hearken. 
Hething, p. Ill, scorn, 

mockery. 
Heuch, p. 132, a steep 

bank. 
Hewmond, p. 81, helmet. 
Heynd, p. 3, docile, affable. 
Hie, pp. 42, 162, high, 

exalted. 
Hing, p. 12, hung. 
Hint, pp. 114, 120, 186, 

seized, taken, caught. 
Hirpilland, p. 1^4:, halting, 

walking as if lame. 
Hoichis, p. 207, houghs. 
Hoir, p. 25, hoar, aged. 
Holkit, p. 31, hollowed, to 

make hollow. 
Holtis, p. 7, woods, forests. 
Hone, pp. 25, 199, delay. 
Hostand, p. 23, coughing. 
Hovit, p. 190, raised, held 

up. 
How, howe, pp. 23, 31, 80, 

hollow, deep-seated. 
Howp, p. 7, hope. 
Huche, or heuch, p. 7, a 

steep bank. 
Hude, p. 127, a hood. 
Hufe, p 146, hoof 
Hurd, hui'de, pp. 64, 68, a 

hoard, treasure. 
Hurcheoun, p. 138, a 

hedge -hog. 



318 



GLOSSARY. 



Hy, in hy, pp. 28, 79, 186, 

204, in haste. 
Hynk, p. 26, haste away^ 

remain in suspense. 
Hynt, pp. 63, 133, to seize, 

to lay hold of. 



I. 



Incontinent, p. 19, immedi- 
ately^ forthwith. 

Ineuch, p. 69, enough. 

Insolent, p. 49, inexpe- 
rienced. 

Instant, p. 213, immediate, 
present. 

Intermell, p. 127, inter- 
mingle. 

Irk, p. 28, indolent. 

Ithand, p. 68, busy, unre- 
mitting. 



J. 

Janglour, p. 6, tatler, tale- 
teller. 

Jasp, p. 104, a jasper, a 
precious stone. 



K. 

Keikis, p. 171, looks up, to 
peep, to make the first 
appearance. 

Kemmit, p. 83, combed. 

Kennettis, p. 123, hunting 
dogs. 

Kennis, p. 187, knows. 

Kennit, p. 206, known. 

Kest, pp. 11, 15, cast. 

Kist, p. 108, a chest. 



Kithit, kythit, p. 109, 

shown, appear. 
Kittockis, p. 123, concu. 



oines. 
Knap, p. 181, to catch hold, 

to seize. 
Knax, knakis, pp. 142, 

144, tricks, sharp-witted 

gibes. 



Laich, p. 140, low. 

Laif, pp. 16, 144, 224, the 
rest, remainder. 

Laip, p. 131, lap. 

Laithly, p. 30, loathsome. 

Lair, p. 128, at school, to 
learn. 

Laitis, p. 10, manners, be- 
haviour. 

Lampis, p. 159, probably 
for Campis, in one MS. 
tampis, whiskers. 

Lansand, p. 136, darting, 
ranning about, moving 
with agility. 

Lansit, p. 159, to dart, to 
spring. 

Lap, p. 185, leaped. 

Lare, pp. 31, 37, learning. 

Lattit, p. 76, hindered. 

Lauch, p. 83, laugh. 

Lautee, p. 37, loyalty. 

Law, p. 181, low. 

Law, lawest, pp. 17, 131, 
138, brings low,humblest. 

Lawis, p. 17, casts down. 

Lawte, p. 195, lawtie, p. 
153, truth, fidelity. 

Le, p. 223, peace, tran- 
quillity. 

Le, lie, pp. 174, 205, shel- 
tered ground. 



GLOSSARY. 



319 



Learis, p. 125, liars. 
Led, p. 14, enforced. 
Leid, p. 92, language. 
Leid, p. 195, a man person. 
Leid, p. 211, told lies. 
Leif, p. 181, permit^ give 



Leir, pp. 3, 92, 158, to 

learn. 
Leird, lerd, pp. 67, 137, 

taught^ informed. 
Leirit, p. 67, learned. 
Leit, p. 25, to delay. 
Leme, lemis, pp. 127, 156, 

gleams of lights radiance. 
Lemman, pp. 6, 122, lover^ 

sweetheart. 
Lerroun,p. 138. — See note, 

p. 306. 
Let, p. 115, to hinder. 
Lettand (leitand), p. 214, 

to pretend., to give out. 
Leuch, pp. 120, 195, 197, 

laughed. 
Levar, p. 24, liver. 
Lever, pp. 105, 114,^ratlier. 
Lewar, p. 124, a place of 

shelter. 
Lewte, p. 195, truth. 
Lieit, p. 204, lied^ swore 

falsely. 
Liggand, p. 163, lying. 
Liggit, p. 4, lie together. 
Likand, p. 33, agreeable^ 

grateful. 
Lind, p. 206, loins. 
Linget-seed, p. 172, the 

seed of flax. 
Linkis, p. 201, in a net, 

chains. 
Lint, p. 11 4:, flax. 
Lint-bollis, p. 174, the pods 

containing the seed of 

flax. 



Lipper, p. 92, a person 

afflicted with leprosy. 
Lipper-folk, p. 96, leprous 

persons. 
Loggerand, p. 218, sprawl- 
ing. 
Loif, p. 146, honour. 
Lokker, p. 156, curled. 
Loving, p. 161, praise., 

commendation. 
Low, lowe, p. ^4:., flame. 
Lowne, p. 165, sheltered, 

screened from the blast. 
Lowrie, Lowi'ence, p. 127, 

a name given to the fox. 
Lourand, lowrand, pp. 181, 

195, downcast looks, 

lurking. 
Lout, loutit, pp. 138, 139, 

to bow, to cringe. 
Loutis, p. 146, bends, to 

do honour. 
Lude, p. 3, loved. 
Luifis, p. 186, the palms of 

the hands. 
Lukit, luikit, pp. 61, 139, 

looked. 
Lustie laitis, p. 11, pleasant 

demeanour. 
Lyart, p. 120, grey-haired, 

hoary. 
Lychtlie, p. 209, to under- 
value, despise. 
Lychtit, p. 185, lighted. 
Lyre, lire, pp. 61, 80, skin, 

flesh. 
Lycome, likame, pp. 12, 

24, the body. — See note, 

p. 240. 
Lymmar, p. 144, a knave, 

worthless person. 
Lyt, a lyt, pp. 10, 11, 

near at hand, for a time, 

a short while. 



330 



GLOSSARY. 



M. 

Ma, p. 197, make. 
Mache, machit, p. 222, 

match, matched. 
Maculait, p. 178, polluted. 
Mailleris, p. 215, farmers, 

persons who pay rent. 
Mais, maissis, p. 110, a 

mess, provisions. 
Makdome, p. 23, figure, 

shape. 
Malisone, p. 185, a curse, 

malediction. 
Mane, mane-breid, p. 112, 

bread made with fine 

flour, almonds, or milk 

and eggs. 
Mangerie, p. 113, feast, 

repast. 
Mappamand, p. 57, the 

terrestial globe ; literally, 

a map of the world. 
Mare, p. 56, more. 
Marmyset, p. 138, a small 



Marrit, p. 3, marred. 

Marrow, p. 222, mate, con- 
sort, associate. 

Mart, p. 194, a cow or ox 
prepared for winter pro- 
vision. 

Mavis, p. 155, the mavis, a 
thrush. 

Meldrop, p. 80, moisture. 

Mell, p. 24, meddle, mingle. 

Meinour, p. 92, memory, 
remembrances. 

Mene, p. 23, purpose, in- 
tent. 

Merkit, p. 115, hastened, 
from Merk, to ride. 



Merk (mirk), p. 13, dark. 
Merle, pp. 90, 155, the 

black-bird. 
Mertrik, p. 138, a pole-cat. 
Ming, myng, mingis, pp. 

97, 101, 214, to mingle, 

mixes. 
IVIirk, myi-k, pp. 60, 70, 

168, dark. 
Msleving, pp. 101, 128, 

bad conduct. 
Mittenis, p. 185, gloves. 
Mocht, p. 196, might. 
Mon, pp. 31, 191, must. 
Mone, p. 199, the moon. 
Mone, pp. 53, 89, lamen- 
tation. 
Mot, p. 6, may. 
Mow, mowis, pp. 179, 183, 

207, sport, jests. 
Mowdewart, p. 138, a 

mouldwarp, a mole. 
Mowlit, p. 91, mouldy. 
Moyr, p. 21, more. 
Mude, p. 3, mood. 
Muf, p. 33, proceed, move. 
Muke, p. 104, dung. 
Myngit, pp. 65, 83, mingled. 
Myrk, mirk, pp. 60, 70, 

dark. 
Mysfare, p. 65, go cLstray. 

K 

Nar, p. 189, near; nar, p. 

85, nearer. 
Neip, p. 198, turnip. 
Neiss, p. 38, nostrils. 
Neist, p. 79, next. 
Nethirmare, p. 56, lower 

down, below. 
Nippis, p. 199, catches. 
Noit, p. 21, note. 



GLOSSARY. 



321 



Nouis, the, p. 107, for the 

occasion. 
Northin, p. 75, Northern. 
Nouther, p. 131, neither. 
Nowmeris, p. 57, numbers. 



Obsolve, p. 31, answer^ 
resolve. 

Ocht, p. 196, ought., any 
iking. 

Okker, p. 154, usury. 

Orature, pp. 75, 79, ora- 
tory. 

Orisonis, p. 32, orisons., 
prayers. 

Orlege, p. 121, a clock. 

Oner, ower, pp. 160, 217, 
over; (iu the old Scot- 
tish poets tt and w are 
used for v, and usually 
pronounced, as a mono- 
syllable, owr, o'er). 

Oulk, pp. 122, 131, a week. 

Ourcome, p. 63, recover. 

Ourheillit, p. 125, covered 
over, concealed. 

Oui*e-set, p. 21, overcome. 

Our-fret, p. 23, overspread. 

Oursyld, p. 55, concealed. 

Our-tuk, p. 11, overtake. 

Outraid, p. 222, settled. 

Outthrow, p. 61, through- 
out. 

Outwaill, p. 79, outcast. 

Ouirfret, p. 81, deck'd over. 

Ouirquhelmit, p. 89, over- 
whelmed. 

Ower sone, p. 222, too 
soon, to readily. 

Owthlr, p. 28, either. 



Oyas, p. 156, Oyes! (Fr., 
oyez). 



P. 

Pace, p. Ill, Pasch, the 
feast of Easter. 

Pace, p. 213, apace. 

Paddok, p. 217, a frog. 

Paip, p. 28, the Pope. 

Painless, p. 14tS, free from, 
impartial, unbiassed. 

Palpis, pappis, pp. 31, 51, 
211, paps. 

Palzeoun, p. 137, pavilion 

Panit, p. 35, suffered, en- 
dured pain. 

Pansing, p. 9, thoughts, 
meditation. 

Paramour (par amour), p. 
10, beloved. 

Paramour, pp. 25, 83, a 
gallant, a lover, mist7-ess. 

Parralling, p. 114, a par- 
tition, or perhaps tapestry 
or hangings to cover a 
wall. 

Pasche, p. 131, time of 
Easter. 

Patelet, p. 9, a rvff^. 

Patill, p. 193, the stick used 
to clear away the earth 
thatadheres to the plough. 

Paynchis, p. 131, tripe. 

Pedder, p. 186, a pedlar, 
a hawker of small goods. 

Peelit, pp. 31, 153, peeled, 
stripped bare. 

Peip, p. 217, cry. 

Peir, p. 11, equal. 

Pels, p. 114, pease. 

Peit-pot, p. 135, the hole 
from which peat is dug. 



322 



GLOSSARY. 



Pennair, p. 156, a pen- 
case. 

Pennis, p. 169, wings^ pro- 
perly feathers. 

Pennyfull the mone, p. 
199, the full moon, as 
round as a penny. 

Pens, p. 31, meditate, re- 
flect. 

Peifay, p. 7, verily, truly. 

Peifyt, p. 8, complete, per- 
fect. 

Perpall wall, p. 116, par- 
tition wall. 

Perqueir, to cnn, p. 222, 
to learn exactly by heart. 

Perqueir, p. 224, perfectly. 

Perrie dog, p. 148, a dog 
that is constantly at his 
master^s heels. Lord 
Hailes makes it Burry. 

Pertrik, p. 188, a partridge. 

Pess, p. 71, peace. 

Pete, p. 55, pity, compas- 
sion. 

Pew, p. 221, cry. 

Phisiiamour, p. 31, physi- 
ognomy, countenance. 

Phisnomie, pp. 140, 219, 
countenance. 

Picht, p. 137, pitched, pre- 
pared. 

Pietie, pp. 114, \%Q, pity. 

Pieteoiis, p. 217, pitiful. 

Pinnit, p. ^0, fastened. 

Plane, full, (de piano), p. 
151, upon the spot, in- 
continently. 

Plank, p. 194, a share, 
division of spoil. 

Playnt, p. 63, complaint. 

Pleid, pp. 211, 151, con- 
troversy, pleading. 

Plenje, p. 62, complain. 



Plenyeit, p. 151, com- 
plained. 

Plet, plettis, pp. 109, 163, 
118, folded, embraced. 

Pleuch, p. 193, plough. 

Pley, pp. 149, 196, plea. 

Plycht, p. 212, condition. 

Plye, pp. 93, 114, state, 
plight. 

Poleist, pp. 31, 87, smooth, 
polished. 

Polite, p. 101, polished, 
elegant. 

Porteous, p. 152, the roll 
of persons accused. 

Pow, powis, pp. 30, 31, 
159, 162, head, heads. 

Pow, pp. 159, 162, the claw, 
foot of a beast of prey. 

Powis, p. 137, proud, 
haughtily, with haughty 
heads {?) in some copies, 
to wis, cords, ropes, — 
omitted in V.R. 

Practick, p. 145, custom. 

Precelling, p. 91, surpas- 
sing. 

Preif, pp. 131, 220, to 
prove, make trial. 

Preiss, p. 4, endeavour. 

Prene, pp. 24, 90, a pin. 

Prent, pp. 160, 219, im- 
pressed, resemblance. 

Press, p. 54, strive, endea- 
vour. 

Previt, p. 145, proved. 

Price, for preis, p. 161, 
praise. 

Prikkis, p. 129, troubles. 

Prikkit, p. 52, inflamed. 

Progenitryse, p. 51., pro- 
genetrix. 

Propertie, p. 116, inherit- 
ance. 



GLOSSARY. 



323 



Pultrie, p. 1S3, poultrt/. 

Pure, p. 108, poor. 

Purfillit, pp. 9, 170, em- 
broidered. 

Purpour, p. 169, purple. 

Pursephant, p. 136, a her- 
ald^ pursuivant. 

Pusoun, pp. 19, 212, poi- 
son. 

Pyke, p. 186, to pilfer. 

Pykeris, p. 109, pillagers, 
stealers. 

Pjking, pp. 119, 185, steal- 
ing. 

Pykis, p. 201, picks out. 

Pyne, p. 63, torment. 

Pypes, p. 170, casks. 

Q. 

Quailzie, p. 173, the quail, 
a bird. 

Quair, p. 76, a book, a 
quire of paper, stitched 
together. 

Quert, p. 13, joyful, in 
good spirits. 

Quhailis bane, p. 31, whale- 
bone or ivory. — See note, 
p. 301. 

Quhair, pp. 87, 173, where; 
all quhair, p. 10, every- 
where. 

Quhaissill, p. 138, the 
weasel. 

Quhay, quha, p. 68, who. 

Quheill, quhele, pp. 58, 67, 
95, 223, a wheel. 

Quhelllis, p. 200, wheels, 
turns over. 

Quheu, p. 75, when. 

Quhetting, p. 82, whetting. 

Quhiddcr, p. 180, whether. 

Qiihilk, p. 86, which. 



Quliill, quliyle, pp. 6, 27, 

114, while, until. 
Quhillis, quhj'les, pp. 76, 

114, 221, 223, at times. 
Quhiskis, p. 179, carries off. 
Quhisling, p. 75, whistling. 
Quhitrit, p. 138, the stoat, 

a small animal of the 

weasel kind. 
Quhylum, p. 203, some- 
time. 
Quhyte, p. 135, white. 
Quitclamc, p. 199, release. 

discharge. 
Quod, p. 120, quoth. 
Quotidiane, pp. 30, 41, 

daily. 

R. 

Ra, p. 138, the roe. 

Rad, raid, pp. 182, 208, 

'i.lb, frightened, terrified. 
Raddour, p. 37, rashness, 

impetuosity. 
Radicate, p. 103, rooted, 

ingrained. 
Raik on raw, p. 3, to pro- 
ceed, to go in order. 
Raip, raipis, pp. 183, 163, 

rope, cords. 
Raith, p. 141, 194, quickly, 

hastily. 
Raklie, p. 205, fiercely, 

recklessly. 
Rampand, pp. 53, 210, 

raging. 
Rank, p. 92, importunate. 
Rankest gers, p. Ill, 

coarsest grass. 
Ransoun, p. 11, ransom. 
Rathly, p. 59, quickly. 
Raucht, pp. 144, 186, 

reached. 



324 



GLOSSARY. 



Rauk, rawk, pp. 91, 217, 
hoarse. 

Raxe, p. 135, to stretch. 

Reach, p. 131, to extend., 
grant. 

Recure, p. 87, recovery. 

Recure, p. 148, to recover. 

Reid, pp. 113, 141, 176, 
184, 222, counsel^ advice. 

Reif, p. 69, to rob. 

Reif, pp. 129, 135, 201, 
213, robbery. 

Reik, p. 161, extend^ be- 
stow. 

Reivis, p. 5, robs^ deprives. 

Rekill, p. 206, the entrance 
of a building., or place 
of shelter? In Jamie- 
son we have Rockel, a 
porch or vestibule. 

Remord, pp. 133, 146, to 
blame., feel remorse. 

Renke, p. 49, a man., per- 
son. 

Renje, p. 103, restrain. 

Renyeit, p. 140, governed. 

Repreif, p. 101, reprove. 

Repudie, p. 77, divorce. 

Retour, pp. 77, 91, return. 

Retreit, p. 40, withdrawn. 

Returne, p. 85, throw back. 

Reull, p. 209, governed. 

Reuth, rewth, pp. 131, 
161, 213, pity. 

Revand, p. 139, thievish. 

Reveir, pp. 138, 210, rive?: 

Rewit, p. 56, pitied. 

Riche, p. 135, enrich. 

Ring, pp. 32, 167, 209, 
reign. 

Ringis, p. 214, reigns. 

Rink, rinkis, pp. 90, 209, 
a person, persons. 



Roiff, p. 5, rufe, p. 33, 
quiet, rest. 

Rok, p. 118, a distaff. 

Rokkit, p. 59, moved, 
rocked. 

RoUand, pp. 166, 169, 
rolling. 

Rone, pp. 138, 141, brush- 
wood; rone and ryis, p. 
155, bushes and twigs. 

Roseu', p. 21, an arbor of 
roses. 

Rouch, p. 205, rough. 

Roun, pp. 19, 94, to whis- 
per. 

Roundis, p. 184, whispers. 

Rowand, p. 223, rolling. 

Rowan - tree, roan, the 
mountain ash. 

Roy, p. 140, a king. 

Rude, pp. 3, 40, 208, 224, 
the Rood, the Holy Cross. 

Rufe, p. 33, rest, quiet. 

Ruik, p. 91, rook. 

Runkillit, p. 218, wrinkled. 

Ruse, p. 95, extoll, com- 
mend highly. 

Russell, p. 181, a kind of 
satin. 

Ryce, p. 141, branches or 
twigs of trees, bramble 
bushes. 

Ryell, p. 27, royal. 

Ryf, p. 53, ryve. 

Ryn, pp. 161, 211, run. 

Rynkis, p. 36, place of 
tourney. 



Sad, pp. 49, 145, grave, 

prudent. 
Sadlie, p. 136, gravely, 

solemnly. 



GLOSSARY. 



32o 



Saiklace, sakeless, saikles, 

pp. 20, 34, 212, guiltless, 

innocent. 
Saipheron, p. 90, savoury ? 

or saffron ? 
Sair, p. 90, ivound, disease. 
Sail', pp. 91, 153, sore, 

heavy, bitter. 
Sail, p. 25, shall. 
Sals, p. 90, sauce. 
Salt, p. 25, shalt. 
Salve, p. 90, remedy, or 

salve applied to wounds 

or hurts. 
Sapheris, p. 31, sapphires, 

precious stones. 
Sapour, p. 50, taste, savour. 
Sarie,p 112, sorry, pitiable. 
Sark, pp. 8, 12, a shirt, 

shift. 
Saw, p. 195, his word, 

saying. 
Sawand, p. 19, sowing. 
Sawis, p. 44, salves. 
Sayne, p. 132, to bless. 
Scaith, p. 52, hurt, damage. 
Scammeris, p. 70, should 

perhaps be stammeris, 

stumbles. 
Scautlie, p. 75, scarcely, 

with difficulty. 
Schaipit, p. 198, escaped. 
Schankis, p. 52, legs. 
Schaw,pp. 52, 19b,toshow. 
Schaw, schawis, pp. 119, 

195, 206, a wood, covert. 
Scheddand, p. 169, divid- 
ing, cleaving. 
Schent, pp. 5, 182, ruined, 

destroyed, lost. 
Schill, pp. 75, 136, shrill. 
Schondir, schunder, pp. 11, 

208, asunder. 
Schone, p. 9, shoes. 



Scliore, p. 211, threat. 

Schow, p. 182, shove, push. 

Schryif, schryve, pp. 128, 
129, shrive. 

Schuir, p. 164, cut, tore, 
severed. 

Schuke, p. 11, shook. 

Scliulit, p. 176, shovelled. 

Schupe, p. 206, endea- 
voured. 

Senilis, p. 157, schools. 

Sedullis, p. 26, schedules. 

See, p. 30, state, residence. 

Seisit, p. 69, ceased. 

Sek, p. 191, sack. 

Sekkis, p. 112, sacks. 

Seiche, p. 44, the seal. 

Selcouth, p. 185, a strange 
thing. 

Seldyu, p. 65, seldom. 

Selie, pp. 114, 121, 130, 
poor, wretched. 

Selie, sely, pp. 61, 152,210, 
213, simple, harmless. 

Sell, p. 199, self. 

Semblie, p. 140, assembly. 

Sendill, p. 176, far, seldom. 

Seneour, senyeouris, pp. 
24, 199, Seigneur, per- 
sons of rank. 

Sent, p. 134, scent, smelling. 

Seriositee, p. 64, grave, 
weighty. 

Serk, sark, p. 10, a shirt or 
shift. 

Serss, p. 69, to search. 

Serwandis, p. 19, servants. 

Servis, p. 40, deserves. 

Sessoun, p. 90, seasoning. 

Sete, p. 33, seat, throne. 

Sethe, p. 66, to stew (in 
cookery). 

Sett, p. 23, to adapt with 
notes (to music). 



GLOSSARY. 



Seure, p. 26, true^ sure. 
Sew, p. 204, sowed. 
Sewe, p. 67, meat stewed. 
Sey, p. 82, sea. 
Sichiug, p. 91, sighing. 
Sicht, sichit, pp. 5, 121, 

sighed. 
Sicker, pp. 129, 189, secMre. 
Sickerness, pp. 9, 116, se- 
curity. 
Sickker, p. 195, binding^ 

sure. 
Sik, sic, pp. 15, 37, such. 
Sikkeiiy, p. 215, firmly^ 

securely. 
Simuland, p. 11^^ feigning. 
Skaith, pp. 19, 110, 194, 

hurt^ damage^ injury. 
Skar, p 182, frightened., 

alarmed. 
Skelfis, p. 112, shelves. 
Skrow, p. 143, scroll. 
Slaik, p. 175, low ground 

among hills. 
Sleif, p. 197, sleeve. 
Sleit, p. 175, sleet. 
Slicht, p. 120, sleight^ a 

dexterous practice. 
Slidder, p, 209, uncertain^ 

unstable. 
Slonkis, p. 175, sloughs^ 

quagmires. 
Slouth, p. 165, sloth. 
Slyderness, p. 60, slipperi- 

ness. 
Smell, p. 50, sagacity. 
Smoirand, p. 214, smo- 
thered., smothering? 
Snod, p. 205, smooth. 
Snout, p. 145, the nose of 

a beast. 
Soir, p. 24, disease. 
Sonc, pp. 139, 218, 222, 

soon. 



Souken, p. 89, swik. 

Sonyeis, p. 183, excuses. 

Sop, p. 89, a morsel^ any- 
thing steeped in liquor. 

Sory, p. 68, worthless. 

Souer, p. 36, secure. 

Soukkit, p. 211, sucked. 

Sowpit, p. 91, filled. 

Sowrokis, p. 44, sorrel, a 
plant having an acid taste. 

Soyr, p. 82, sorel, or colour 
inclining to red. 

Spa-men, p. 69, fortune- 
tellers. 

Span, p. 175, span. 

Sparth, p. 137, thepard? 

Spaying, pp. 69, 70, for- 
tune telling. 

Speir, p. 53, 222, ask, in- 
quire. 

Speiris, pp. 27, 224, in- 
quires. 

Speiris, see Spere. 

Sperit, p. 112, inquired. 

Speit, p. 175, a spit. 

Speldit, p. 175, spread 
open. 

Spence, p. 112, a larder, 
the place where provisions 
are kept. 

Spenser, p. 113, the store- 
keeper, the butler. 

Spere, p. 56, sphere ; speris, 
speiris, pp. 57, 65, 70, 
the spheres. 

Spittaill hous, p. 89, house 
for lepers, hospital. 

Splene, p. 24, the milt. 

Splene, p. 35, the heart. 

Spreittis, p. 76, spirit. 

Sproutis, p. 201, shoots, 
blossoms. 

Stad, p. 94, beset. 

Staff, p. 187, a stick; cudgel. 



GLOSSARY. 



327 



Stall, p. 132, stole. 
Stane, stauis, pp. 165, 167, 

stone^ stones. 
Stane, weyis ane, p. 197, 

a stone- weight. 
Stark, pp. 24, 106, strong. 
Starnis, p. 81, stars. 
Steir, steird, pp. 124, 132, 

to move, moved. 
Steir, in, p. 193, busili/. 
Steirand, p. 224, active, in 

motion. 
Steiris, p. 139, troubles. 
Stentit, p. 166, stretched 

out. 
Sternis, pp. 56, 127, stars. 
Stevyn, p. 24, sound, the 

voice; p. 93, noise. 
Stikkand, p. 156, sticking. 
Stilland, p. 170, distilling. 
Sting, p. 187, a long pole. 
Stint, pp. 124, 186, to stop, 

pause. 
Stirk, p. 197, a bullock, a 

young heifer. 
Stoppeil, p. 186, a plug, a 

stopple. 
Stoppit, p. 177, stuffed; 

stoppit full of stra, p. 

160, stuffed with straw. 
Stottis, p. 193, oxen. 
Stound, stoundis, p. 91, 

acute pain. 
Stouth, p. 129, theft. 
Stra, pp. 58, 114, 160, 

183, straw. 
Straik, p. 173, stroke. 
Strarapit, p. 52, trampled. 
Straucht, pp. 185, 188, 

stretched. 
Straucht, p. 193, kept 

straight. 
Streik, p. 188, stretch. 
Streiking, p. 193, busy. 



Streikit, p. 189, stretched. 
Strikin, p. 112, cut off (in 

slices). 
Stro, p. 91, straw. 
Stude, pp. 73, 131, 206, 

stood. 
Stuid grey meir, p. 141, a 

horse or stud mare. 
Sty me, p. 70, a glimpse. 
Sua, p. 130, so. 
Subcharge, p. 110, second 

course. 
Sucker, p. 125, sugar. 
Suith, suthe, pp. 26, 195, 

truth. 
Suittis, p. 139, causes. 
Suld, p. 8, should. 
Sumdeill, pp. 82, 194, 198, 

somewhat, a good deal. 
Suth, p. 30, truth, verity. 
Swa, pp. 131, 144, 153, so. 
Swak, p. 94, to cast, to 

throw down with force. 
Swakkit doun, p. 186, cast 

with force, threw down. 
Sweit, the, p. 119, a term 

of endearment. 
Swelt, pp. 96, 119, 190, to 

faint, overpowered as 

with heat. 
Swink, p. 215, to labour. 
Swingillit, p. 175, to sepa- 
rate the flax from the core 

by beating it. 
Swoning, p. 121, swooning. 
Swoping, swopit, p. 104, 

sweeping, swept. 
Swyith, pp. 124, 174, 204, 

quickly, immediately. 
Syis, oft, p. 94, oft-times. 
Syke, p. 143, a marshy 

bottom with a rill of 

water. 
Sylit, p. 75, concealed. 



GLOSSARY. 



Syn, greit syn, p. 113, 

great pity. 
Syne, pp. 88, 143, 167, 

then^ afterwards. 
Syte, p. 91, greif^ suffering. 



T. 

Ta, p. 50, take. 

Taid, taiddis, pp. 219, 220, 
221, a frog ^ toad^ frogs. 

Taikning, takning, pp. 83, 
96, token^ remembrance. 

Taill, p. 195, account^ reck- 
oning. 

Taill, p. 157, a tale. 

Taill, p. 195, reckoning. 

Taillisman, p. 18, tale-teller. 

Tailzies, p. 112, pieces of 
meat^ cut in slices for 
roasting or boiling. 

Tais, pp. 120, 135, 145, 
200, toes. 

Tais, p. 145, takes. 

Tait, p. 159, gay^ sporting. 

Tak, p. 214, a lease. 

Taue, pp. 11, 164, taken. 

Tary, tarie, pp. 57, 121, 
delay. 

Tedderit, p. 65, fastened^ 
tied. 

Tendouris, p. 49, instruc- 
tors. 

Tene, teyne, pp. 187, 204, 
rage., anger. 

Tene, p. 187, enraged. 

Tent, p. 104, care, attention. 

Tepat, p. 9, tippet. 

Termagant, p. 31, "the 
name of an old Saracen 
deity, coiTupted from 
Tervagant "— Halliwell. 

Tethys, p. 127, chief of the 



Sea-Goddesses^ ivife and 
sister of Oceanus. 

Tench, p. 164, tough. 

Textuall, p. 125, contained 
in the text. 

Teyn, p. 35, mad with rage. 

Teyne, p. 187, anger. 

Thay, p. 118, these. 

Thig, pp. 130, 143, 214, to 
beg. 

Thobe, p. 15, a proper 
name, Tobias the son of 
Tobit. 

Thocht, p. 212, thought. 

Thoill, thole, pp. 9, 159, 
214, suffer., endure. 

Thoillit, tholit, pp. 77, 108, 
endured., suffered. 

Tholis, p. 154, suffers. 

Thraf-caikkis, p. 112, cakes 
made of wheat. 

Thrawart, p. 219, distorted. 

Thrawin, p. Ill, distorted. 

Thrist, p. 210, thirst. 

Thusgate, p. 53, in this 
manner. 

Thyne, fra, p. Ill, from 
thence^ that place. 

Tint, pp. 104, 201, lost. 

Tirllit, p. 159, plucked. 

Tit, pp. 187, 208, pulkd. 

Titlaris, p. 18, tatlers. 

Tityns, pp. 59, 60, in hea- 
then mythology^ the son 
of Jupiter., and educated 
by Terra. 

Tod, p. 139, Tod-Lanrie, 
the common designation 
in Scotland for a fox. 

Tone,/or tane, p. 12, taken. 

Tone, p. 26, sound of the 
voice. 

Toxicate, p. 125, intoxi- 
cate. 



GLOSSARY. 



329 



Trappald, p. 220, deceitful. 

Treippand, p. 137, hop- 
ping nimbly. 

Tretie, p. 114, entreaty. 

Trig, p. 159, neat., trim in 
apparel. 

Trimbillifc, p. 113, trembled. 

Trip, pp. 131, 143, 159, a 
flock., a considerable num- 
ber. 

Troich, p. 107, trough for 
swine. 

Trow, pp. 12, 80, 169, 188, 
215, believe. 

Trowand, p. 176, imagin- 
ing., believing. 

Trowd, p. 5, believed., ima- 
gined. 

Trowis, p. 191, expects. 

Truker, p. 187, a worthless 
fellow. 

Trusterie, p. 201, deceitful- 
ness, treachery. 

Tuik, p. 76, tuke, p. 167, 
took. 

Tuilyeour lyke, p. 82, ad- 
dicted to fighting. 

Tume, pp. 105, 170, 179, 
empty. 

Tussillit, p. 185, handled 
roughly. 

Twa, p. 198, two. 

Twichis, p. 70, touches., 



Twist, p. 221, a branch. 
Twynit, p. 220, twisted. 
Tyke, p. 185, a cur, a dog. 
Tyne, pp. 190, 196, to lose. 
Tynt, p. 21 lost. 
Tyre, p. 206, wearied. 

U and V. 

Udir, pp. 38, 70, other. 



Uncouth, p. 89, unusual. 

Underta, p. 160, under- 
take. 

Uneith, p. 190, hardly, 
with difficulty. 

Unfute sair, p. 108, — here, 
and in the '^Priests of 
Peblis," /ree^rom pain 
in the feet, for walking. 

Unlusum, p. 12, uncomely, 
not lovely. 

Unroikkit, p. 197, ignor- 
antly 1 

Uponland, upland, pp.108, 
1 52, /awc?i<;ar^— See note, 
p. 280. 

Uprais, p. 75, uprose. 

Utter port, p. 63, outer 
gate. 

Vaillis, p. 116, avails. 

Vaneis, p. 25, vanish. 

Vincust, p. 133, vanquished. 

Voce, p. 23, voice. 

Vult, pp. Ill, 219, aspect, 
countenance. 



W. 

(Words in Wh. see Quh.) 

Waikit, p. 178, (vaked), 
ceased. 

Waillit, p. 91, chosen. 

Waine, p. 11, dwelling, 
place (rf residence. 

Wair, p. 5, were. 

Wair, p. 107, waste, spend. 

Waist, p. 96, waste, deso- 
late. 

Wait, quha wait, p. 158, 
who knows; God wait, 
p. 189, God knows ; 
wait nocht, p. 200, know 
not. 



330 



GLOSSARY. 



Wait, p. 127, ambush ; 

wait-skaith, p. 127, lying 

in wait for plunder. 
Waith, p. 108, what chance 

throws in the way. 
Waits, p. 166, knows. 
Wald, pp. 8, 14, would. 
Waldyne, p. 24, active. 
Walk, p. 203, to watch. 
Walkryfe, pp. 121, 204, 

watchful. 
Wall, wallis, pp. 131, 224, 

waves. 
Wallowit, pp. 31, 61, 

withered^ decayed. 
Wame, wambe, pp. 58, 

110, 116, 182, belly. 
Wand, pp. 34, 152, rod. 
Wand, under the, p. 108, 

in a state of subjection. 
Wane, pp. 38, 112, dwell- 
ing^ place of abode ; will 

of wane, p. 94, at a loss 

for a habitation. 
Wanhope, wanhowp, pp. 

70, 76, despair., vain 

hope. 
Wanner, p. 203, paler., 

more wan than. 
Wanrufe, p. 4, uneasy. 
War, ware, p. 218, icere. 
War, pp. 38, 91, 179, 204, 

211, worse. 
War, be, pp. 71, 179, 209, 

be cautious^ careful. 
Wai', p. 70, worse. 
Wariand, p. 219, varying. 
Warisoun, p. 62, reward. 
Warlie, p. 132, cautiously. 
Warsch, p. 61, having a 

sickly look. 
Water-caill, pp. 114, 215, 

broth made without meat 

in it. 



Wawland, p. 121, staring^ 
crying out. 

Wedder, p. 203, a sheep. 

Wedder, weddir, pp. 6, 75, 
80, weather. 

Wedow, p. 64, used for a 
widower. 

Weid, p. 203, weeds. 

Weill, p. 199, well. 

Weir, p. 8, to wear. 

Weir, but weir, p. 203, 
free from disturbance. 

Weir, pp. 161, 209, war. 

Weir, to, p. 81, to averts 
ward off. 

Weird, pp. 88, 90, 128,/ate, 
destiny. 

Weihitlie, p. 204, speedily. 

WeiU, p. 13, well. 

Weitand, p. 218, wetting. 

AVellis, p. 96, quagmires., 
or marshy ground. 

Welterand, p. 224, rolling., 
tossing about. 

Wend, pp. 7, 160, 193, 
expected., imagined. 

Wend, p. 153, to pass. 

Wendin, p. 25, changed. 

Wene, bot, p. 26, doubtless. 

Wenis, p. 183, thinkest., 
expectest. 

Wer, p. 206, aware. 

Werd, p. 69, same as Weird. 

Werryit, see WiiTjit. 

Wey, p. 18, to weigh., con- 
sider. 

Weyis, p. 198, weiglis. 

Wicht, p. 27, strong., power- 
ful. 

Wichtis, p. 90, persons. 

Widderit, pp. 81, 198, 
withered., ivorn out. 

Widdercock, p. 95, wea- 
thercock. 



GLOSSARY. 



331 



Widdie-nek, p. 128, a rope 
of willow - twigSy put 
round the neck. 

Wiethly, p. 26, quickly, 



Wildwod, p. 138, savage, 

untamed. 
Wilsome, wilsum, pp. 54, 

58, 109, wild, lonely. 
Win, p. 42, winning. 
Wink, winkit, pp. 120, 

124, to wink, winked. 
Winkand, p. 121, winking. 
Winning, p. 157, dwelling, 

habitation. 
Wirk, pp. 8, 185, 188, 

work. 
Wirryit, pp. 123, 144, 181, 

203, worried. 
Wirth, p. 24, worth. 
Wisk, p. 221, a rapid 

movement. 
Wist, pp. 206, 221, knew, 

aware, imagined. 
Wit, lat you, p. 65, let you 

understand. 
Withgang, p. 208, liberty, 

toleration. 
Wittie, p. 169, wise. 
Wod, wode, pp. 125, 146, 

insane, mad. 
Wode, p. 121, wood. 
Woddis, pp. 23, 96, woods. 
Woid, pp. 6, 123, wood. 
Woid, p. 121, mad, out of 

her mind. 
Woii', p. 9, wore. 
Woir, p. 81, wasted. 
Woke, p. 198, ivatched. 
Woke, pp. 145, 159, 167, 

awake, awakened. 
Woll, p. 152, wool. 
Womenting, p. 54, lament- 
ing. 



Wonder, wondir, pp. 24, 

54, 65, wondrous. 
Wone, p. 58, dwelling. 
Worthis, p. 102, becomes, 

waxes. 
Worthit, p. 194, became. 
Wow, p. 13, to woo, make 

love. 
Wowd, p. 14, wooed. 
Woweir, p. 14, wooer. 
Wox, woxe, pp. 78, 193, 

waxed. 
Wraik, p. 88, revenge. 
Wraikfull, p. 86, revengeful. 
Wrait, pp. 103, 157, wrote, 

to write. 
Wrak, p. 179, goods, usu- 
ally applied to refuse. 
Wrench, p. 7, wretched. 
Wrink, p. 182, difficulty. 
Wrinkis, p. 199, tricks, 

subterfuges. 
Wryth, p. 14, remove, tear 

away. 
Wy, p. 164, a man. 
Wyis, p. 156, wise. 
Wyn, p. 198, gain. 
Wynd, p. 171, turn about. 
Wynnit, p. 181, dwelt. 
Wyte, p. 80, 198, blame. 



Yaip, p. 24, eager. 

Yede (or yeid), pp. 59, 67, 

went. 
Yeid, pp. 115, 200, went. 
Yett, pp. 58, 89, gate. 
Yhaip, p. 24, eager. 
Ying, p. 24, young. 
Ympit, p. 18, ingrafted. 
Yneuch, p. 143, enough. 
YoTV, p. 144, ewe. 
Yude, p. 109, went. 



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